Hefajat-e-Islam Bangladesh on Monday threatened to enforce a daylong countrywide hartal on Thursday if sacked minister Abdul Latif is not arrested by Wednesday for his disparaging remarks against Islam.
Hefajat organising secretary Maulana Azizul Haque Islamabadi said that they have taken the decision at a meeting on Monday.
Besides, they called a nationwide demonstration programme for Tuesday demanding Latif Siddique’s immediate arrest.Meanwhile, leaders of Ahle Sunnat-al Jamaat, another Islamist group, have issued a threat to besiege the Home Ministry on Wednesday if Latif is not arrested in 48 hours.
They also announced a human chain and demonstration programme for Tuesday demanding Latif’s arrest.
Advocate Mosaheb Uddin Bakhtiar, member secretary of Ahle Sunnat-al Jamaat central coordination committee, announced their programmes at a press briefing at Chittagong Press Club on Monday.
Over 20 cases have so far been filed against Latif Siddique across the country while some courts issued warrants for his arrest.
At a views-exchange meeting with expatriates from Tangail in New York on September 28, Latif Siddique made disparaging remarks against hajj, one of the main pillars of Islam, and Tablig Jamaat.
Following his remarks, the Awami League-led government sacked Latif Siddique from the cabinet on October 12.
He was also removed from the Awami League presidium in addition to cancelling his primary membership of the party.
Braving several court warrants pending for his arrest, sacked minister Abdul Latif Siddique returned home on Sunday night, nearly two months after his remarks hurting the religious sentiment of Muslims. – UNB
