Mir Afroz Zaman
POBNEWS24, Dhaka Aug 29, 2025 : A court in the capital Dhaka, Dhaka, has rejected the bail application of former Textile and Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui and ordered him to be sent to jail in an anti-terrorism law case filed by Shahbagh Police Station.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana Haque issued the order on Friday. On that day, the investigation officer of the case, Shahbagh Police Station Sub-Inspector Tawfiq Hasan, presented the accused in court and requested to be detained in jail. Their lawyers applied for bail on behalf of the accused. Additional Public Prosecutor Shamsuddoha Suman, representing the state, opposed the bail. After the hearing, the court rejected their bail and ordered them to be sent to jail.
The other accused who went to jail are: Dhaka University Professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman (Curzon), Md. Abdullah Al Amin, Manjurul Alam, Kazi ATM Anisur Rahman Bulbul, Golam Mostafa, Md. Mohiul Islam alias Babu, Md. Zakir Hossain, Md. Toushiful 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 Qayyum.
After widespread tension surrounding a round table organized by a platform called ‘Manch 71’ at Dhaka Reporters Unity on Wednesday, August 28, police took former minister and Awami League expelled Latif Siddiqui and some others into custody. Later, Shahbagh Police Station Sub-Inspector Md. Amirul Islam filed a case.
According to the case source, on Wednesday around 11 am, the plaintiff saw several people surrounding some people in the auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity, shouting slogans calling Awami fascists, and Abdul Latif Siddiqui giving a speech. During interrogation, it was learned that an organization named ‘Manch 71′ emerged on August 5 to stop the conspiracy to erase the history of the Liberation War and the distortion of the history of the Liberation War. The purpose of that organization was to prepare for self-sacrifice with the people of Bangladesh to resist all conspiracies to erase the achievements of the nation. As part of the preparation, a roundtable meeting was organized at 10 am on August 28. During interrogation, it was also learned that 70-80 people, including the arrested accused, participated in the roundtable meeting. Later, the police took them into custody.
During interrogation of the people present, it was revealed that Latif Siddiqui, capitalizing on the banner of Manch 71, was actually giving a speech inciting others present to destabilize the country through armed struggle and overthrow the interim government. The people present surrounded the gathering and shouted slogans calling Awami fascists for his conspiratorial speech.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the Workers’ Party of Bangladesh Politburo strongly condemned the attack and disruption of the meeting by the anti-independence forces on the organizers of ‘Manch 71’, freedom fighter guests, including politician Latif Siddiqui, Dhaka University teacher Prof. Hafizur Rahman Karzon, JSD leader Abdullahil Qayyum, senior journalist Manjurul Alam Panna, labor leader Bir Muktijoddha Abul Hossain, and the audience and audience at the seminar organized by ‘Manch 71’ at the Dhaka Reporters Unity Auditorium in Segunbagicha on Thursday. Not only that, the evil force has created a mob in a very planned manner against the spirit of ’71 in the guise of July fighters with the help of the government, which is a grave injustice. This incident is a manifestation of fascist behavior in the history of Bangladesh. The anti-’71 forces, Jamaat-Shibir, have engaged in revenge by occupying the state. Thursday’s incident is consistent with the killing of intellectuals in 1971.
The leaders said, “Bangladesh was not affected by ‘mob terrorism’ during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure. At this time, who will give this nation hope? Who will sing the song of awakening? The one who will give hope is not there! He has been forcibly evicted from Bangladesh.”
The Anti-Fascist Left Front said in a statement that the attack on the Mancha 71 meeting, the physical assault on the leaders and activists present, the raising of obscene slogans in front of the house of freedom fighter Fazlur Rahman, the attack, vandalism and looting of entertainment centers in Dinajpur and other mob terrorism across the country are the blueprint of the Yunus government. Anti-Fascist Left Front Coordinator and Bangladesh Communist Movement Coordinator Shuvrangshu Chakrabati, Bangladesh Socialist Party-BASD General Secretary Harunar Rashid Bhuiyan, and Ganamukti Union Convener Nasir Uddin Ahmed Nasu said in a statement that mob terrorism has been carried out across the country under the auspices of the interim government since the mass uprising of 24. The main target of the terrorists is the Liberation War. They are trying to erase the memory of the Liberation War across the country. They are vandalizing and looting sculptures, shrines, memorial plaques of the Liberation War, houses and places of worship of minority communities, attacking women, and obstructing cultural activities. In the statement, the leaders strongly condemned and protested against the government’s stance on behalf of the mob terrorists, demanding immediate arrest of the attackers and exemplary punishment.
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