The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Monday cleared the way for the release of former Awami League minister Abdul Latif Siddique, rejecting the state鈥檚 appeal against his High Court bail in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act over an alleged plot to overthrow the government.
The apex court upheld bail to former Ekushey Television journalist Monjurul Alam Panna in the same case, recalling its previous order that adjourned for a week hearing of his bail prayer.
A three-member bench, chaired by Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, passed the orders after hearing the state鈥檚 separate petitions challenging the bail orders of Latif Siddique, a freedom fighter, and Panna.
The case, filed on August 28 with Shahbagh police station by sub-inspector Amirul Islam, accused Latif Siddique, Dhaka University law teacher Hafizur Rahman Kazan, journalist Panna, and 13 others of conspiring and holding a meeting with government critics in Dhaka to topple the interim government.
Additional attorney general Aneek R Haque sought a stay on their bail, arguing that the offences were grave and punishable by death or life imprisonment. He claimed that the two were arrested red-handed at the Dhaka Reporters鈥� Unity auditorium during what he described as a 鈥榗onspiratorial meeting鈥� organised by Mancha 71.
Aneek alleged that video footage from the event showed the accused as active collaborators, not mere attendees, and their release could lead to tampering with evidence and intimidation of witnesses, many of whom are serving police officers.
He further argued that the High Court鈥檚 bail order was 鈥榠llegal and arbitrary,鈥� as it was a one-line order without reasons, contrary to the Appellate Division鈥檚 practice requiring detailed reasoning in non-bailable offences.
Aneek maintained that the trial court had rightly denied bail, citing the gravity of the offence, the short detention period, the ongoing investigation, and the risk of absconding.
On the other hand, defence lawyers Sara Hossain and ZI Khan Panna urged the court to uphold the bail, arguing that there were no specific allegations or documentary evidence against their clients.
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