Claim that Zunaid Ahmed Palak has been granted bail is false
Social media users have been posting claims that former State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak has been granted bail after 491 days. While verifying the claim, Dismislab’s fact-check found that the claim of Palak being granted bail is not true. His lawyer, Farzana Yeasmin Rakhi, confirmed this to Dismislab.
On 10 December, a page called “Political Edition” posted a photocard on Facebook with the caption, “Former State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak has been granted bail after 491 long days. Do you think this is good news for the Awami League? 1/Yes 2/No.” The comment section shows that many users believed the post to be true. One user wrote, “Yes, of course, Inshallah success will come.” Another wrote, “Joy Bangla Joy Bangabandhu Joy Joy Joy Ahmed Palak thank you, Allah; thanks to the Almighty.” The post has been shared 315 times so far.
The same claim was also posted from multiple (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) personal profiles and groups (1, 2) on Facebook, as well as on Instagram (1, 2).
To verify the claim, Dismislab conducted searches using relevant keywords but found no news reports supporting it. Dismislab also contacted Palak’s lawyer, Farzana Yeasmin Rakhi, and she confirmed that her client is still in prison. Farzana added, “Not a single case against Palak sir has resulted in bail so far.”
In other words, the fact-check confirms that the claim Zunaid Ahmed Palak has been granted bail is false.
For context, on 10 December, Palak’s lawyer alleged that after appearing before the International Crimes Tribunal, Palak was taken back to prison in a prison van, and because he shouted the slogan “Joy Bangla” and sang the national anthem, his rights to meet family members and relatives and to speak on the phone have been revoked. He was arrested in August 2024 and is currently in Dhaka Central Jail. He is facing at least seven cases involving alleged murder and conspiracy to use explosives during the mass uprising in July 2024.
