Islamists demand Latif Siddique’s arrest, death penalty

FE Team | Published: July 04, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

FE Report
Different Islamist parties, including Hefazat-e-Islam, reiterated their demand on Friday that the government arrest Abdul Latif Siddique by cancelling his bail and hang him for his derogatory remarks against Islam.
After Juma prayers the Islamist parties, including Hefazat, brought out processions. They paraded Dainik Bangla intersection before the processing terminated at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram Mosque.
They burned the effigy of Siddique and chanted slogans against the enemies of Islam. However, there was no report of any untoward incident.    
"We demand immediate arrest of Latif Siddique and his hanging unto death for his derogatory remarks against Hajj and Tablig jamaat that hurt our sentiment," Nayebe Amir of Hefazat-e- Islam Noor Hossain Kasemi said at the rally at the north gate of the national mosque after Juma prayers.  
He said their movement would continue until their demand is met.
Former AL minister Siddique secured his bail on June 29 last against the cases filed in different districts.
He was under treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) under police custody (arrest). After getting bail he left the hospital to an unknown place on the day (June 29, 2015).   
Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish and Islamic Movement Bangladesh and some other political parties took part in the protest rally.  
Earlier, law enforcement agencies, including police, were deployed in and around the Baitul Mukarram Mosque area to avert any untoward incident.  
Our Correspondent from Chittagong adds: Hefajat-e-Islam workers here on Friday demanded arrest of Abdul Latif Siddique for hurting religious sentiment of the Muslims.
Several hundred activists of the Islamic outfit held a protest meeting and brought out a procession after Jum'a prayers. The procession started from Andorkilla Shahi Jame Mosjid and ended at the Chittagong Press Club.
Presiding over the protest meeting, joint secretary general of the organisation Moinuddin Ruhi said in 2013 they launched a movement from Chittagong against atheists.
They would launch a movement, if Latif Siddique is not arrested and tried. "We will lay siege to Dhaka, if needed," he added.
Azizul Huq Islamabadi, Kateb Ilyas, Abdul Wahab Sarkar and ANM Ahmed Ullah also spoke on the occasion.
The former presidium member of AL made adverse comments on Hajj, Tablig Jamaat and Sajib Wajed Joy, son of prime minister Sheikh Hasina in September last at a programme at Jackon Heights in New York.
Mr Siddique was expelled from the party soon after filing of 22 cases against him in 18 districts over his derogatory remarks against Hajj and Tablig Jamaat, prompting the Islamists to wage movement against him.
The court issued arrest warrant against him as he could not appear before the court in time.
After returning back from New York he surrendered to Dhanmondi police station on November 25 last. The police had brought him to the court and later he was sent to the jail.
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