Latif Siddique, 15 others sent to jail in terrorism case

A Dhaka court on Friday sent 16 people, including former minister and expelled Awami League leader Abdul Latif Siddique and Dhaka University Professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman, to jail in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Judge of the Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Dhaka, Sarah Farzana Haque, passed the order after hearing a petition submitted by the police.
The other accused sent to jail in the case filed with the Shahbagh Police Station are- Abdullah Al Amin, Manjurul Alam, Qazi ATM Anisur Rahman Bulbul, Golam Mostafa, Mohiul Islam Babu, Zakir Hossain, Tousiful Bari Khan, Amir Hossain Sumon, Al Amin, Nazmul Ahsan, Syed Shahed Hasan, Shafiqul Islam Delwar, Dewan Mohammad Ali, and Abdullahil Qaium.
Earlier on the day, Toufiq Hasan, a sub-inspector of the Shahbagh Police Station and also investigation officer of the case, produced the accused before the court and pleaded that they be kept in custody until completion of the investigation.
The defence lawyers submitted bail pleas, which were opposed by Additional Public Prosecutor Shamsuddoha Sumon.
After hearing both the parties, the court rejected the bail petitions and ordered to send the accused to jail.
Police detained the 16 on August 28 after they went to attend a discussion organised by Mancha 71, which claims itself as a platform of freedom fighters, at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU).
A group of people reportedly surrounded and heckled them, accusing them of being loyalists of the Awami League.
Police later showed them arrested in the case, filed on charge of conspiracy against the interim government and attempts to push the country toward armed conflict.
It was alleged that Siddique, 75, under the banner of 'Mancha 71', was instigating others to destabilise the country through armed struggle and oust the current interim government, said the case statement.

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