Dhaka: A court here today scrapped the bail plea of former minister Abdul Latif Siddique and journalist Monjurul Alam Panna in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Hasib Ullah Pias passed the order as defence counsels moved the pleas before the court.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana Haque on August 29 sent 16 people, including Abdul Latif Siddique, to jail in connection with the case. The other accused sent to jail include Professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman, Md Abdullah Al Amin, Qazi ATM Anisur Rahman Bulbul, Golam Mostafa, Md Mohiul Islam Babu, Md Zakir Hossain, Md Tousiful Bari Khan, Md Amir Hossain Sumon, Md Al Amin, Md Nazmul Ahsan, Syed Shahed Hasan, Md Shafikul Islam Delwar, Dewan Mohammad Ali, and Abdullahil Qaium.
Police detained the 16 individuals on August 28 after they attended a discussion organized by Mancha 71, a platform claiming to represent Freedom Fighters, at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU). A group of people reportedly surrounded and heckled the attendees, accusing them of being loyalists of the Awami League. Subsequently, the police showed them arrested in the case, accusing them of plotting to topple the current interim government.