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An 87-year-old former minister is among 16 individuals who were ordered into custody by a Bangladesh court on Friday, facing charges linked to a conspiracy against the government, according to police reports.
Since the mass uprising that ousted Sheikh Hasina’s autocratic rule in 2024, Bangladesh has experienced ongoing political instability. Various parties are now jostling for influence ahead of elections set for February.
The 16 suspects were detained Thursday after participating in a meeting at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), a journalists’ organization. During the gathering, participants accused political factions of plotting to overthrow the constitution.
Eyewitnesses reported that a mob invaded the venue, disrupted the event, and subsequently handed the individuals over to law enforcement authorities.
“These arrests were made under the anti-terrorism legislation,” stated Khalid Mansur, the officer-in-charge of Dhaka’s main police station.
Among those detained was Abdul Latif Siddiqui, a former minister under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Authorities told the court that the group was “secretly forming plots and inciting unrest with the aim of destabilizing the nation and overthrowing the current administration.”
Hafizur Rahman Karzon, a law professor from the University of Dhaka, was also taken into custody. During Friday’s court appearance—where the suspects arrived handcuffed, wearing helmets and bulletproof vests—they claimed to be victims rather than perpetrators.
Journalist Manjurul Alam, one of the detainees, raised his hands and declared, “My hands have fought against corruption for years.”
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