Advocate Rahmat Ali MP, Farooq Khan MP, Mirza Azam MP, Obaidul Qader and Jahangir Kabir Nanok appeared in the court and sought anticipatory bail.

The court issued a rule upon the government to explain why they should not be granted regular bail.

The AL leaders were accused of illegal entry into the protected area of Dhaka Cantonment and also violating the Official Secrecy Act on February 28 last year.

The police in the case said the accused accompanying AL President Sheikh Hasina tried to visit Prof Humayun Azad in the CMH defying restrictions.

Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud appeared for the petitioners.