HC rejects actor Riaz’s bail pleas in two July murder cases

The High Court on Thursday returned the anticipatory bail petitions filed by actor Riaz Uddin Ahamed Siddique in two separate murder and attempted murder cases linked to the July uprising.

Riaz appeared in person before the HC and sought anticipatory bail in the cases. After hearing the petitions, a bench comprising Justice KM Zahid Sarwar and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher removed them from the cause list and returned them.

Senior lawyer Motahar Hossain Saju represented Riaz, while Deputy Attorney General Manzurul Alam Sujon appeared for the state. Sujon confirmed the development.

Riaz is an accused in a separate murder cases filed with Shahbagh and Jatrabari Police Stations in connection with the July uprising.

According to case documents, a case was filed on May 2, 2025, accusing Riaz of attempting to murder Saifuddin Mohammad Emdad, a student of Government Alia Madrasa in Dhaka. Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was named the principal accused, along with 200 others, including politicians, artists, journalists and teachers.

Besides Riaz, other entertainment figures named in the case include Ferdous Ahmed, Chanchal Chowdhury, Mamunur Rashid, Meher Afroz Shaon, Aruna Biswas, Jyotika Jyoti, Shamima Tusti, Shomi Kaiser, Saju Khadem, Ashna Habib Bhabna, Soahana Saba, Rokeya Prachy and Zayed Khan.

Journalists Santosh Sharma and Munni Saha, academics Zafar Iqbal, Mizanur Rahman and Muntasir Mamun, as well as Gonojagoron Moncho activists Imran H Sarker and Lucky Akter, have also been named as accused.