7 cases filed, courts issue summon against Latif Siddique
Separate courts in Dhaka and Chittagong today summoned Post and Telecommunications Minister Abdul Latif Siddique to appear before them in cases filed over hurting Muslims’ religious sentiments.
Today, seven separate cases were filed against the minister for his comments on hajj, Prophet Muhammad, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and Tablighi Jamaat in New York that sparked protests at home and abroad.
The cases – two in Dhaka, four in Chittagong and another in Sylhet – were filed a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is now at the United States, decided to sack Latif Siddique from the cabinet for his comments.
A Chittagong court summoned the minister to appear before it on October 20, after taking into cognisance the charges of three separate lawsuits. In the afternoon, another case was lodged at a separate court.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mizanur Rahman summoned Latif Siddique to appear before his court on October 28, after taking into cognisance the charges pressed by a former Dhaka Metropolitan Bar Association president Abed Reza.
In a separate lawsuit, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rezaul Karim took cognisance of the charges pressed by a hide trader Alhaz Md Badal and summoned Latif to appear before the court on October 30.
Meanwhile, a writ petition was filed with the High Court in the capital today seeking arrest of Latif Siddique and his removal from the cabinet division.
Petitioner Eunus Ali Akond urged the court to order the government for a change in the penal code and include the provision of life term imprisonment and death sentence for hurting religious sentiments.
While talking to The Daily Star, Akond said that the High Court might hear the petition after the holidays of Eid-ul-Azha.
On the other hand, five other cases were filed against Latif Siddique in Chittagong and Sylhet over similar reason.
As per the existing provision of the penal code, the highest penalty for conviction in hurting people’s religious sentiments is two-year imprisonment.
In Chittagong, three lawyers Sattar, Iftekhar Mahsin and Kawsar Parvin filed separate lawsuits against Latif Siddique at Chittagong Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court, reports our local correspondent.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mushiur Rahman took the charges into cognisance and summoned the minister to appear before his court on October 20, said additional public prosecutor (APP) Abid Hossain.
Another case was filed by lawyer Abdul Kayum at the court of Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate Ahmed Said, our correspondent reported an update around evening.
In Sylhet, Masudur Rahman Khan Munna, a former assistant secretary of Sylhet Bar Association and now a lawyer of pro-ruling party Awami Ainjibi Parishad, filed a case with a local court against Latif Siddique.
Metropolitan Judicial Magistrate Shahidul Karim took the charges into cognisance for next course of action, our Sylhet correspondent reports.
WHAT THE MINISTER SAID
On Sunday, at a programme organised by the Tangail Samity at a New York hotel, Latif said he was against hajj and Tabligh Jamaat more than he was against the Jamaat-e-Islami.
"Hajj is a waste of manpower. Those who perform hajj do not have any productivity. They deduct from the economy, spend a lot of money abroad.
Speaking about the history of hajj, he said Prophet Muhammad was worried about the people of Arab as they were robbers. The prophet then made an arrangement that his followers meet at a place every year, which will generate income.
Criticising Tabligh Jamaat, he said, "Tabligh Jamaat brings together about 20 lakh people every year. It has no specific duties. It just clogs traffic across the country."
Latif also castigated Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, saying, "Why do you often mention of Joy? Who is Joy Bhai? Joy is nobody in the government. He cannot make any decision."
On talk shows, the minister said, "Those who attend talk shows are basically ‘talk man’. They jabber in front of cameras as they have nothing to do."
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