Journalist Shawkat Mahmud has been shown arrested in an anti-terrorism case filed at Shahbagh Police Station in connection with the launch of the organization 'Manch 71'. The order was issued on Monday, March 30, 2026, by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana following a police petition. State lawyer Shamsuddoha Suman confirmed the court’s decision. Before the order, Mahmud was produced before the court, and the investigating officer, Inspector Md Akhtar Morshed, requested that he be shown arrested as an accused identified during the investigation.

According to the case statement, 'Manch 71' was formed on August 5 of the previous year to prevent distortion of Bangladesh’s Liberation War history. As part of its activities, a roundtable discussion was held on August 28 at the Dhaka Reporters Unity. During the event, a group of individuals entered the venue, created chaos, and confined some participants, including Abdul Latif Siddique and Professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman. Police later detained 16 people and a case was filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act by Sub-Inspector Amirul Islam.

The case petition stated that showing Mahmud arrested was necessary for proper investigation and justice.