Ex-MP Latif Siddiqui, journalist Panna denied bail in anti-terrorism case
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Hasib Ullah Piyash passed the order
A Dhaka court has denied bail to former textiles and jute minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui and journalist Manjurul Alam Panna in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act over alleged conspiracies to push the country toward armed struggle.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Hasib Ullah Piyash passed the order this afternoon (4 September) after a hearing, according to court sources.
Defence lawyers, including Farzana Yasmin Rakhi, argued in favour of bail, while Additional Public Prosecutor Muhammad Shamsuddoha Sumon strongly opposed it.
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Following submissions from both sides, the court rejected their bail petitions.
Earlier on 29 August, Latif Siddiqui, 87, Manjurul Alam Panna, 49, Dhaka University law Professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman Karzon, 55, and 13 others were sent to jail in the same case.
The other accused in the case are Md Abdullah Al Amin, 73; Kazi ATM Anisur Rahman Bulbul, 72; Golam Mostafa, 81; Md Mahiul Islam alias Babu, 64; Md Zakir Hossain, 74; Md Tausiful Bari Khan, 72; Md Amir Hossain Sumon, 37; Md Al Amin, 40; Md Nazmul Ahsan, 35; Syed Shahed Hasan, 36; Md Shafiqul Islam Delwar, 64; Dewan Mohammad Ali, 50; and Md Abdullahil Qaiyum, 61.
According to the case documents, a new platform named "Manch 71" was launched on 5 August last year with the aim of resisting conspiracies to distort the history of Bangladesh's Liberation War.
As part of its activities, the group arranged a roundtable at Dhaka Reporters Unity on 28 August.
The attendees of the roundtable titled "Our Great Liberation War and the Constitution of Bangladesh" were allegedly provoking others to destabilise the country through armed struggle and conspiring to overthrow the current interim government.
During the programme, a group allegedly stormed in, chanted slogans, shut the doors, tore banners, harassed participants, and confined several attendees, including Latif Siddiqui and Professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman.
Police later intervened and detained 16 people. Shahbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge Amirul Islam subsequently filed the case under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
