As former shipping minister Shajahan Khan was escorted from the lockup to a courtroom of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Dhaka this morning, he wore his usual smile.

A presidium member of the Awami League, Shajahan greeted journalists with a brief statement: "I'm fine." Asked about his Eid, he said, "It went very well. I'm safe from the hands of the criminals… I'm keeping well."

During court proceedings the previous day, Shajahan was seen smiling and chatting with his fellow accused while in the dock.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Minhazur Rahman yesterday showed Shajahan and several others arrested in connection with various cases related to the July uprising. The others include former law minister Anisul Huq, former food minister Qamrul Islam, Salman F Rahman, former adviser to the then prime minister, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haq Inu, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, former head of news at Ekattor TV Shakil Ahmed, principal correspondent Farzana Rupa, and former managing director Mozammel Babu.

At 10:50am, Shajahan appeared upbeat as he was led back to the lockup wearing a bulletproof vest and helmet, with handcuffs on. Asked by a journalist how he had spent the Bengali New Year behind bars, he smiled and said, "How much more do you want to hear from me? Why don't you tell me something instead?"

RUPA, SHAKIL LOOK WORRIED

Meanwhile, Farzana Rupa appeared visibly worried while in the dock for around 45 minutes.

She spent much of the hearing talking to her husband, Shakil Ahmed, and former colleague Mozammel Babu.

At 10:16am, Babu walked over to her and they spoke for six minutes before police asked them not to talk.

Both Rupa and Shakil remained silent as they were escorted into the lockup at 10:50am after being shown arrested in two murder cases filed with Jatrabari Police Station.