Hartal called for Sunday
An alliance of Islamic parties has called a countrywide daylong hartal for Sunday as their demand for arresting recently sacked minister Abdul Latif Siddique by yesterday is not met.
On October 1, Sammilito Islami Dalsamuho gave the government a 15-day ultimatum to arrest Siddique but later it extended the date until October 22.
"But the government did not pay heed to our demand within the deadline. That's why we are enforcing countrywide hartal on Sunday," Zafrullah Khan, secretary general of the alliance, said at a press conference at Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka yesterday.
Zafrullah, in a written statement, threatened the government to go for continuous movement if it creates any obstacle during the hartal.
The members of the alliance include Islamic Party, Khilafat Majlis, Khilafat-e-Islam, Islami Oikya Jote, Nejam-e-Islam, Muslim League and Hefajat-e Islam. Many of the alliance members are components of the BNP-led 20-party combine.
When contacted, Abdul Mobin, chairman of Islamic party, told The Daily Star that they were not satisfied with the steps the government had taken against Latif.
Since Latif is claiming what he had said was correct, there is no alternative for the people of the country except for demanding his arrest, said the chief of the Islamic party.
Latif's remarks have not only hurt Muslims' religious sentiments, they are also in violation of the constitution, he added.
He also said the government can take the help of Interpol to arrest Latif since he is now in Kolkata.
The former posts, telecommunications and information technology minister drew widespread flak both at home and abroad for his "derogatory" comments on Hajj, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Tablighi Jamaat in New York on September 28.
He was stripped of his ministerial position, party's presidium post and suspended of his primary membership in the Awami League. The party later issued a show-cause notice seeking explanation as to why he would not be expelled in view of his remarks.
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