The High Court has granted six months’ bail to Dhaka University Prof Sheikh Hafizur Rahman Karzon in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
A High Court bench comprising Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raza and Justice Rezaul Karim passed the order on Monday.
Earlier, Karzon along with former Awami League minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui were detained following a violent confrontation during a roundtable discussion at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) on 28 August.
The event, titled “Our Great Liberation War and the Constitution of Bangladesh,” was disrupted when a group, identifying as “July Fighters,” stormed the venue, accusing the participants of being affiliated with the Awami League, whose activities are now banned.
The attackers, some armed with sticks, verbally abused and physically intimidated attendees, forcing them to stop the event. The chaos led to Siddiqui and Karzon being detained, along with other participants.
A video capturing the incident showed a freedom fighter being assaulted by the group, with protests and slogans echoing through the venue. In response to the violence, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police filed a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009, accusing the detainees of orchestrating mob attack that led to the disruption.
The Anti-Terrorism Act, designed to address terrorism-related crimes, grants authorities the power to arrest and prosecute those accused of terrorism.
