SC upholds bail of ex-minister Latif Siddique, journalist Panna in anti-terrorism case
Lawyers said there is now no legal bar to Abdul Latif Siddique’s release from jail following the order.
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has upheld the bail granted by the High Court to former textiles and jute minister Abdul Latif Siddique and journalist Manjurul Alam Panna in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Shahbagh Police Station in Dhaka.
A three-member bench led by Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury rejected the government's plea to stay the bail order today (10 November).
Lawyers said there is now no legal bar to Abdul Latif Siddique's release from jail following the order.
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Barrister Sara Hossain represented Abdul Latif Siddique in court, while Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman and Additional Attorney General Anik R Haque appeared for the state.
Earlier on 4 September, a Dhaka court denied bail to former minister Abdul Latif Siddique and journalist Manjurul Alam Panna in the case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act over alleged attempts to incite armed struggle.
On 29 August, Latif Siddique, Panna, Dhaka University Professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman Karzon, and 13 others were sent to jail after attending a roundtable organised by "Manch 71" at Dhaka Reporters Unity.
Police later detained 16 people following chaos at the event and filed the case at Shahbagh Police Station.
