Published : 29 Aug 2025, 05:42 AM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 01:43 PM
Fourteen people, including former MP Abdul Latif Siddique and Dhaka University law professor Hafizur Rahman Karzon, have been shown arrested after police took them into custody following a scuffle at a Mancha 71-organised Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) discussion.
Police said the group, who had been taken into custody following the incident, faced accusations of involvement in a “mob attack” during the event on Thursday morning.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner Mohammad Shafiqul Islam said a case had been filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act against 15 people, including the 14 detainees.
“Nine of them are at Shahbagh Police Station and are being taken to our Minto Road headquarters,” he added.
On Thursday afternoon, Mancha 71 hosted a roundtable at DRU’s Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium on “Our Great Liberation War and the Constitution of Bangladesh”.
The group is coordinated by Gono Forum leader Prof Abdullah Al Mahmud (Bir Protik) and senior Supreme Court lawyer ZI Khan Panna.
Former Gono Forum president Kamal Hossain was to make appearance as chief guest, but before his arrival a "mob attack" happened.
Led by Al Amin Russell under the banner of “July Warriors”, several men encircled attendees. Activists of Segunbagicha ward unit of BNP were also present. Police later detained several people.
Freedom fighter Golam Mostafa said, “I came because all freedom fighters were invited, not for any party. We had just started when Latif arrived, but Kamal hadn’t. Then 20–25 youths surrounded us and created chaos.”
Videos circulated online showed youths shouting slogans around Latif -- “Catch every [Awami] League man, drag them to jail” -- and one clip of a freedom fighter being beaten drew widespread criticism.
An individual identified as Keshab Ranjan Sarkar was assaulted and left with a head injury, while JaSaD leader Abdullahil Kayum was beaten after leaving the DRU premises.
The DRU issued a protest note at night condemning the attack on the event and on journalists.
It said outsiders identifying as “July Warriors” confined Latif Siddiqui, Prof Karzon, ex-secretary Abu Alam Shahid Khan and others.
When DRU officials tried to intervene, several members, including DRU General Secretary Mynul Hasan Sohel, were manhandled.
In a joint statement, DRU President Abu Saleh Akon and Sohel said DRU is open to all, with no restrictions on events.
They said threats were posted on Facebook the previous day, prompting the DRU to alert Shahbagh police.
Despite police presence, a group forced entry and attempted mob violence, after which police took Latif and others into custody “to prevent escalation”.
POLICE SECURITY AT LATIF’S HOME
Following the DRU incident, a video claiming arson and looting Latif’s Tangail residence began circulating on Facebook from Thursday afternoon.
As the 40-second clip went viral in the evening, it sparked nationwide discussion. Police and local sources confirmed that the fire incident was false.
Kalihati Police chief Zakir Hossain said police have been deployed at Latif’s ancestral home, emphasising that the arson report is a rumour.
The video shows a building on fire with a crowd gathering and labels it as Latif's house, but the footage is entirely fabricated.
Farid Ahmed, private secretary to freedom fighter Kader Siddique, said no such incident occurred. He added that law enforcement is providing security at Latif’s house.
