Mancha 71 fracas: Why Latif Siddique refused to seek bail

"I won't sign the power of attorney and I won't ask for bail," he told his lawyer

Former textiles and jute minister Abdul Latif Siddique has refused to seek bail after his arrest in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act, following a "mob attack" on him and other freedom fighters at an event in Dhaka.

The 87-year-old, once an Awami League presidium member but expelled from the party in 2014 after losing his cabinet post, told his lawyer there was “no point” in applying for bail from a court he viewed as lacking the authority to grant it. As a result, no petition was filed on his behalf.

On Friday, Latif appeared in court alongside 15 others implicated in the case stemming from Thursday's attack on an event at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) hall. Some of the accused did apply for bail, but after hearing arguments from both sides, the magistrate ordered all of them into custody.

Defence lawyer Saiful Islam said Latif repeatedly refused to sign the power of attorney required for a bail application.

“When I approached him with the document, he said, ‘Why should I apply for bail to a court that doesn’t have the power to grant it? I won’t sign and I won’t ask for bail.’ He said the same thing every time I tried.”

The accused were first held in the court’s lock-up before being brought in around 10:30am. They appeared in handcuffs, wearing helmets and bulletproof vests.

At one point, Dhaka University law professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman Karzon turned to the police officers and said: “This is unbearable, please take off the bulletproof vest.” Officers then removed the jackets.

Throughout the proceedings, Latif stood silently in the dock -- sometimes smiling faintly, sipping water, or resting his face in his hand. When journalists later asked if he had anything to say, he simply shook his head.

The other detainees include several academics, journalists, and freedom fighters, aged between their 30s and 80s.

FREEDOM FIGHTERS ASSAULTED

The arrests stem from an incident on Thursday, when Latif and other veterans of the 1971 Liberation War came under attack during a roundtable discussion at the Dhaka Reporters Unity. The event, titled “Our Great Liberation War and the Constitution of Bangladesh”, was organised by the platform Mancha 71.

The programme was 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 had been invited as the chief guest. But before his arrival, a group of men in their 20s and 30s, identifying themselves as “July Warriors”, stormed the hall while chanting slogans.

Videos circulated widely on social media show the men, reportedly linked to Jamaat-e-Islami's student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir, locking the doors and tearing down banners for the event. They surrounded Latif and other elderly participants, harassing and assaulting them.

One chant captured on video declared, “Catch every [Awami] League man, drag them to jail.” Another widely shared video showed a freedom fighter being beaten, sparking outrage among netizens.

Several attendees were injured in the confrontation. Inside the venue, activist Keshab Ranjan Sarkar was struck and suffered a head injury. Outside, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal leader Abdullahil Kaiyum was also attacked.

Recounting the incident, freedom fighter Golam Mostafa said: “I came not on party lines, but because all freedom fighters had been invited. We started the programme. Latid Siddique had arrived, but Kamal Hossain had not. Then 20 to 25 young men stormed in, caused chaos, and surrounded us.”

FROM 'RESCUE' TO TERROR CHARGES

Police later intervened and removed Siddique, academics, and journalists from the hall. Reports suggested that some of them were taken to Mintoo Road while others were taken to Shahbagh Police Station. For hours, however, police neither released their names nor confirmed their detention.

Officers initially claimed they had been taken away for “security reasons”, claiming the move was necessary to protect them from the mob attack. But by nightfall, the reasoning changed. Instead, authorities said they had been placed under arrest under the Anti-Terrorism Act.