Reasons Why Abdul Latif Siddique Did Not Seek Bail

Former Textiles and Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddique did not apply for bail in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Shahbagh Police Station in the capital. He refused to sign the power of attorney (wakalatnama) required for his lawyer to file a bail petition.

On Friday, his lawyer Saiful Islam Saif, who appeared in court on his behalf, confirmed the matter. Saiful stated, “When I approached Latif Siddique for his signature on the wakalatnama to file a bail petition, with the court’s permission, he said, ‘Why should I seek bail from a court that has no authority to grant it? I will not sign the wakalatnama, nor will I apply for bail.’”

Bail petitions were filed for the other accused, as confirmed by lawyer Farzana Yeasmin Rakhi. The state was represented by Additional Public Prosecutor Shamsuddoha Sumon. After the hearing, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana Haque rejected the bail petitions and ordered all accused to be sent to jail. The other accused sent to jail include Dhaka University Law Department Professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman (Karzon), Md. Abdullah Al Amin, Manjurul Alam, Kazi ATM Anisur Rahman Bulbul, Golam Mostafa, Md. Mohiul Islam alias Babu, Md. Zakir Hossain, Md. Tawsiful 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 Qaium. On Friday morning, the investigation officer, Sub-Inspector Toufiq Hasan of Shahbagh Police Station, produced the accused in court and requested their detention. The defense counsel filed bail petitions, but after the hearing, the judge rejected the pleas and ordered the accused to be sent to jail. The case stems from an incident on Thursday morning when a roundtable discussion titled “Our Great Liberation War and the Constitution of Bangladesh” was organized by ‘Mancha 71’ at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) auditorium. Protesters from the July Uprising labeled the platform as an attempt to rehabilitate the “fascist Awami League.” The invitation for the event listed former Gono Forum President Dr. Kamal Hossain and lawyer ZI Khan Panna as guests. During the event, a group surrounded Abdul Latif Siddique, accusing him of being an Awami League accomplice and raising slogans. Police arrived and took the accused into custody, later transferring them to the Detective Branch (DB) from Shahbagh Police Station.

That night, a case was filed against them under the Anti-Terrorism Act with the police as the complainant