No approval needed to arrest Latif Siddique: Speaker

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury has made it clear no prior approval is required to arrest Tangail-4 MP Abdul Latif Siddique outside the Parliament premises. Former telecoms minister Siddique, who was dropped from the Cabinet and Awami League Presidium over his Hajj tirade, returned to Bangladesh Sunday night. The media has been speculating about the Speaker's approval before arresting a lawmaker as some organisations including Hifazat-e Islam have threatened countrywide strikes to press for his arrest. "The Rules of Procedure clearly states that Speaker's permission is mandatory to arrest an MP from the Parliament premises. However, the rules regarding the arrest of a lawmaker while Parliament is in session will be applicable for an MP," Chaudhury told bdnews24.com Monday. The Parliament's Rules of Procedure states: "No one can be arrested within the premises of Parliament without securing permission from the Speaker." It defines premises as the assembly hall, lobby, gallery and any place specified by the Speaker temporarily, according to a news agency.