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Published : 13 May 2026, 04:54 PM
Former Awami League Presidium member and ex-minister Abdul Latif Siddique will no longer have to appear in court in person for hearings in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act. His lawyer will be able to attend the hearings in person instead.
Expressing frustration that it took six months for the request to be approved, Latif told the judge that he would still appear in person, saying he “likes coming to court.”
On Wednesday, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana granted the application, after which Latif made the remarks.
The case was scheduled for a hearing and Latif appeared before the court accordingly. His lawyers had earlier submitted an application seeking permission for representation through counsel. After hearing the matter, the court exempted him from in-person appearances and ordered that he may be represented by his lawyer.
Following the order, Latif expressed his frustration, and told the judge: “The judiciary can’t function like this. An application had been filed six months ago in this case seeking permission to be represented in court by a lawyer. Today you gave the order. I will come to court and mark my attendance. I like coming to court; it has become a habit.”
The judge responded, “That is your wish. Your application has been granted.”
Later, Latif marked his attendance at the court and left the courtroom smiling.
Meanwhile, the investigating officer of the case, Shahbagh Police Station Sub-Inspector Toufiq Hasan, could not submit his investigation report. According to prosecution police SI Shah Alam, Jun 24 has been set as the next date for submission of the report.
Latif’s legal counsel Golam Rabbani said, “An application had been made under Section 205 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking exemption from in-person appearance in this case. The court has granted the application. However, Latif Siddique told the court that he would appear to the court in person.”
According to the case dossier, a platform called Mancha 71 was formed on Aug 5 to “resist conspiracies to erase and distort the history of the Liberation War”. The group organised a discussion at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Aug 28, where a group allegedly stormed into the venue, shouted slogans, tore down banners, and detained the participants.
"At one point, many of the guests were evicted, but they kept Abdul Latif Siddiquue and Prof Sheikh Hafizur Rahman detained. Later, the police arrived and arrested 16 people. Sub Inspector Amirul Islam filed a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Shahbagh Police Station on Friday. Later, they were shown arrested in the case."
Those others named in the case are Md Abdullah Al Amin, 73, Sheikh Hafizur Rahman Karzon, 55, Manjurul Alam, 49, Kazi ATM Anisur Rahman Bulbul, 72, Golam Mostafa, 81, Md Mohiul Islam alias Babu, 64, Md Zakir Hossain, 74, Md Toushiful Bari Khan, 72, Md Amir Hossain Sumon, 37, Md. Al Amin, 40, Md Nazmul Ahsan, 35, Syed Shahed Hasan, 36, Md Shafiqul Islam Delwar, 64, Dewan Mohammad Ali, 50, and Md Abdullahil Qayyum, 61.
Former secretaries Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam and Abu Alam Shahid Khan were later arrested in connection with the case.
Earlier, when the Magistrate and Judge’s Court rejected Latif’s bail petition, his lawyers filed an application with the High Court. A High Court bench comprising Justice ASM Abdul Mobin and Justice Md Sagir Hossain granted interim bail to Latif Siddique and journalist Manjurul Alam Panna on Nov 6 last year.
The state later appealed to the Appellate Division seeking cancellation of the bail. After hearing the matter, a three-member bench led by Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury upheld the bail on Nov 10.
After the bail documents reached the authorities, Latif was released from Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj on Nov 12.
