Former state minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak remained relatively vocal as he was brought to the Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court of Dhaka yesterday.

Palak was escorted from Kashimpur jail under heavy security -- wearing a helmet, handcuffs, and a bulletproof vest. He was taken to court for a bail hearing in a graft case.

As the prison van arrived at the court premises at 1:47pm, Palak approached the iron-barred window and smiled at journalists, greeting them with a hand gesture.

He then told reporters, "The more I speak, the more cases and days of remand increase. What's the point of speaking? Please pray for me."

A while later, police boarded the prison van and put a bulletproof vest and helmet on Palak. He was then escorted under tight police security to the lockup of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court.

On his way to the lockup, Palak once again repeated the issue of cases and remand period.

"They even handcuff me from behind. Do we have the right to speak? So far, I have been made an accused in 78 cases," he added.

At 3:08pm, Palak was taken back to the prison van from the court's lockup after judge Md Zakir Hossain rejected his bail petition in the case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission over the alleged acquisition of wealth beyond known sources of income.

At that time, he told the journalists that he was not having any difficulty fasting while in prison.

"No, I am not having any trouble fasting. This year, Ramadan began while I was on remand," he said.

Palak also called for standing up against the recent rape incidents.

He stated, "In this fiery March, rise against rape. Stand up, Bangladesh. Move forward, chanting 'Joy Bangla'. Rise again!"

His lawyer Farzana Yeasmin Rakhi said, "My client is being regularly shown arrested in various cases and is brought to the court. He is suffering because of this. Additionally, he is being brought to the courtroom with his hands cuffed behind his back, a treatment usually reserved for hardened criminals."

"Palak is not even allowed to communicate with his family. He is being treated like a regular prisoner," she added.