Former minister Latif Siddique again denied bail in anti-terror case
A Dhaka court has denied bail to former minister Abdul Latif Siddique in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act with Shahbagh Police Station, over allegations of conspiring to push the country toward armed conflict.
After being denied bail earlier by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's (CMM) Court, his plea has now also been turned down by the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court.
Today (5 October), following a hearing, Judge Farzana Yasmin of the Fifth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court of Dhaka passed the order.
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During the hearing, defence lawyer Tahmina Taherin sought bail for the former minister, while the prosecution opposed the petition. After hearing both sides, the court denied bail. State counsel Rafiqul Islam Khan confirmed the matter to the media.
Earlier, on 29 August, Abdul Latif Siddique, along with Hafizur Rahman (Karzon) and Md Abdullah Al Amin, was sent to jail in the same case. In total, 16 people were arrested in connection with the incident.
According to the case statement, an organisation named "Mancha 71" was launched on 5 August with the stated aim of resisting conspiracies to erase or distort the history of the Liberation War.
The organisation's stated objective was to mobilise people and prepare for self-sacrifice to resist any conspiracy aimed at erasing the nation's achievements.
As part of this plan, a roundtable discussion was arranged at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in Segunbagicha around 10am on 28 August.
During the event, a group of people reportedly entered the venue shouting slogans, closed the doors, and harassed several participants. They allegedly tore down banners and kept the attendees confined inside the room.
Although most guests were eventually allowed to leave, Latif Siddique and Hafizur Rahman were allegedly held inside. Later, police arrived at the scene and arrested 16 people.
Following the incident, Sub-Inspector Amirul Islam of Shahbagh Police Station filed a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
