Latif Siddiqui seeks bail in anti-terrorism case

Former minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui has filed a bail petition in connection with a case lodged under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The application was submitted on Wednesday at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Dhaka.

Latif Siddiqui’s lawyer, Kayes Ahmed, confirmed the development, stating that his client, currently in custody, signed the power of attorney from jail and instructed him to proceed with the bail request. A hearing on the petition is scheduled for later this afternoon.

Six other individuals arrested in the same case have also sought bail. They include Golam Mostafa, Zakir Hossain, Tousiful Bari Khan, Amir Hossain, Shafiqul Islam, and Abdullahil Kaiyum. All are represented by Ahmed.

Siddiqui was arrested following a controversial roundtable discussion held last Thursday at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU), organized by the platform “Mancha 71.” The event featured speakers including Dhaka University law professor Hafizur Rahman Karzon and journalist Manzurul Alam Panna.

According to eyewitness accounts, the programme was disrupted when a group of individuals entered the DRU auditorium with a procession, tore down banners, and confined the participants. Police later intervened and detained 16 individuals, including Siddiqui, Karzon, and Panna. A case was subsequently filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act, and the court ordered all detainees to be sent to jail last Friday.

Notably, Siddiqui had initially refused to sign legal documents during his court appearance, citing a lack of trust in the judicial process. His change of stance came while in custody, allowing his legal team to proceed with the bail application.