Latif Siddique, 15 others sent to jail in Anti-Terrorism Act case

A court has sent 16 people, including former minister Abdul Latif Siddique and Dhaka University Professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman, to jail in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana Haque passed the order on Friday after police produced the accused before the court and pleaded that they be kept in custody until completion of the investigation. 

The other accused sent to jail in the case filed with Shahbagh Police Station are: Md Abdullah Al Amin, 73, Manjurul Alam, 49, Qazi ATM Anisur Rahman Bulbul, 72, Golam Mostafa, 81, Md Mohiul Islam Babu, 64, Md Zakir Hossain, 74, Md Tousiful Bari Khan, 72, Md Amir Hossain Sumon, 37, Md Al Amin, 40, Md Nazmul Ahsan, 35, Syed Shahed Hasan, 36, Md Shafikul Islam Delwar, 64, Dewan Mohammad Ali, 50, and Abdullahil Qaium, 61.

Police detained the 16 on August 28 after they went to attend a discussion organised by Mancha 71, which claims itself as a platform for Freedom Fighters, at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU). A group of people reportedly surrounded and heckled them, accusing them of being loyalists of the fascist Awami League. 

Police later showed them arrested in the case, which accuses them of plotting to topple the current interim government.