Former minister Latif Siddiqui and several Awami League leaders were taken to the Detective Branch (DB) office for questioning on Thursday following their detention at an event organised by the freedom fighters’ platform, ‘Mancha 71.’
Shahbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Khalid Monsur said Latif Siddiqui and five to six others were taken to the DB office on Minto Road, Dhaka, for questioning.
When asked whether the detainees would be formally arrested, OC Monsur said details would be available after the questioning and it was not possible to comment at this moment.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Ramna Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Md Masud Alam said Latif Siddiqui and a few of his associates were taken into police custody to ensure their safety from a potential mob. He added that they were currently under police custody.
On Thursday morning, ‘Mancha 71’ organized a roundtable titled “Our Great Liberation War and the Constitution of Bangladesh” at the Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters’ Unity. Former Gano Forum president Dr. Kamal Hossain was scheduled to attend as the chief guest. During the event, a group of people surrounded Latif Siddiqui, labeling him an ally of the Awami League, and began chanting slogans against him.