The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday set Monday for hearing the state鈥檚 appeals challenging the High Court orders that granted bail to former Awami League minister Abdul Latif Siddique and former Ekushey Television journalist Monjurul Alam Panna in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
According to the case statement, the two were accused of conspiring and holding a meeting with government critics in Dhaka to overthrow the legal government.
Chamber judge Md Rezaul Haque also directed the lawyers for both Siddique and Panna not to submit bail bonds to the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court until the hearing is held.
The chamber judge fixed the date after deputy attorney general Khandaker Bahar Rumi sought a stay on their bail, arguing that the offences were punishable by death or life imprisonment.
He said the two were arrested red-handed at the Dhaka Reporters鈥� Unity auditorium during what he described as a 鈥榗onspiratorial meeting鈥� aimed at toppling the lawful interim government.
Defence lawyer Sara Hossain, however, urged the court to uphold their bail, arguing that there were no specific allegations or documentary evidence against them.
Latif Siddique and Panna were among 16 people from different professions arrested on August 28 during a meeting organised under the banner of Mancha 71 at Dhaka Reporters鈥� Unity.
Earlier, a lower court had rejected their bail petitions, citing that their detention period was short and the allegations were serious.