HC grants 6-month bail to DU Prof Karzon in anti-terrorism case

The High Court has granted a six-month bail to Dhaka University Professor Hafizur Rahman Karzon in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Shahbagh Police Station. 

The bench of Justice Md Rasheduzzaman Raza and Justice Md Rezaul Karim issued the order today (24 November), confirmed lawyer Ali Ahmed Khokon. He said there is now no barrier to his release from jail.

Earlier, on 29 August, a Dhaka court ordered the imprisonment of former textiles and jute minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui, Professor Karzon and 16 others in the same case. 

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana Haque passed the order. The case was filed by Sub-inspector (SI) of Shahbagh Police Station Md Amirul Islam.

On that day, investigation officer and Shahbagh Police Station Sub-inspector Tawfik Hasan requested the court to keep the accused in jail.

Defence lawyers applied for bail, while additional public prosecutor Shamshuddoha Sumon opposed it. After the hearing, the court rejected the bail plea and sent them to jail.

According to the case statement, a roundtable meeting was held on 28 August at 10am at the Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium under the banner of Manch 71. At the event, Abdul Latif Siddiqui allegedly made remarks encouraging armed struggle to destabilise the country and overthrow the interim government. Police later intervened and detained 16 people.

According to police, during interrogation the accused said that Manch 71, which emerged on 5 August, aimed to prevent distortion of Liberation War history by preparing people for sacrifice. However, police alleged that the platform was being used to conspire against the government.

The other accused are Md Abdullah Al Amin, Manjurul Alam, Kazi ATM Anisur Rahman Bulbul, Golam Mostafa, Md Mohiul Islam alias Babu, Md Zakir Hossain, Md Tawshiful Bari Khan, Md Amir Hossain Sumon, Md Al Amin, Md Nazmul Ahsan, Syed Shahed Hasan, Md Shafiqul Islam Delwar, Dewan Mohammad Ali and Md Abdullahil Kaiyum.