The High Court on Thursday granted bail to former minister Abdul Latif Siddique in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The HC bench of Justice ASM Abdul Mobin and Justice Md Sagir Hossain passed the order after hearing a petition seeking bail for him.

The court also granted bail to journalist Manjur Alam, another accused in the same case.

Senior Advocate ZI Panna, Abdullah Al Harun Bhuiya and Fazlur Rahman appeared for Latif Siddique, while Senior Advocate Sara Hossain and Ramjan Ali Shikdar represented Manjur Alam. Deputy Attorney General Sultana Akter Rubi and Assistant Attorney General Ibrahim Khalil stood for the state.

Advocate Abdullah Al Harun said the court granted interim bail to his client, Abdul Latif Siddique, and if the state does not challenge the order, there will be no legal barrier to his release from prison.

Court denies bail to Latif Siddique, Panna

Assistant Attorney General Ibrahim Khalil, however, said they would file an appeal petition challenging the bail.

Bangabir Abdul Kader Siddique, brother of Latif Siddique, was present during the hearing.

Police detained the former minister and several others after tensions broke out during an event organised by ‘Manch 71’, a platform of freedom fighters, in the capital on August 28.

A group of youths identifying themselves as ‘July Fighters’ handed them over to police around noon, alleging that they had attempted to create chaos at the event held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).

‘Manch 71’ had organised a roundtable titled “Our Great Liberation War and the Constitution of Bangladesh”, which was attended by freedom fighters, lawyers, writers, journalists, teachers, and former bureaucrats.

Later, Sub-Inspector Amirul Islam of Shahbagh Police Station filed a case against them under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

On August 29, a Dhaka court sent former minister Abdul Latif Siddique, Dhaka University Professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman, and 14 others to jail in connection with the case.

Latif Siddique, 15 others sent to jail

The other accused are: Md Abdullah Al Amin, Manjur Alam, 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 Qaiyum.