A case was filed against former Textiles and Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui and 15 others under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Shahbagh Police Station on Friday, accusing them of leading the country toward armed struggle and conspiring against the interim government.

The accused were produced before Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana Haque, who rejected their bail petitions and ordered them sent to jail.

Other accused in the case are Md Abdullah Al Amin, 73; Sheikh Hafizur Rahman Karzon, 55; Manjurul Alam, 49; Kazi ATM Anisur Rahman Bulbul, 72; Golam Mostofa, 81; Md Mohiul Islam alias Babu, 64; Md Zakir Hossain, 74; Md Tawsiful 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 Qaiyum, 61.

The case was filed by Sub-Inspector Md Amirul Islam of Shahbagh Police Station. On the same day, Investigation Officer and Sub-Inspector Taufiq Hasan requested the court to send the accused to jail. The defense lawyers filed bail petitions, but Additional Public Prosecutor Shamsuddoha Sumon opposed them. After hearing, the magistrate rejected the bail and ordered the accused to be sent to jail.

According to the case details, on Thursday (28 August) around 11:00 am, the complainant noticed a group of people at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity auditorium surrounding Latif Siddiqui and others, chanting slogans against the Awami League.

During interrogation, it was revealed that a group named ‘Manch 71’ was formed on 5 August to prevent the erasure and distortion of Bangladesh’s Liberation War history. As part of their preparation, they organized a roundtable meeting on Thursday morning at 10:00 am, attended by 70 to 80 people, including the arrested accused. The police later took them into custody.