Islamic parties call hartal for Sunday
An alliance of Islamic parties has called a countrywide daylong hartal (shutdown) for Sunday as the government has failed to arrest recently sacked minister Abdul Latif Siddique by today for his remarks on hajj and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
On October 1, Sammilito Islami Dalsamuho gave the government a 15-day ultimatum to arrest Siddique but later it extended the date till October 22.
“But the government did not pay heed to our demand within the deadline. That’s why we are enforcing countrywide hartal Sunday,” Zafrullah Khan, secretary general of the alliance, said at a press conference at Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka today.
Zafrullah, in a written statement, threatened the government to go for continuous movement if it creates any obstacle during the hartal programme.
The former posts, telecommunications and information technology drew widespread flak both at home and abroad for his “derogatory” comments in New York on September 28 over hajj, Tablighi Jamaat, prime minister’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and journalists.
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.
The members of the alliance include Khilafat Majlis, Khilaft-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 opposition combine.
WHAT THE MINISTER SAID
At the 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.
"If 1,00,000 people perform hajj every year on an average and spend Tk 5 lakh each, then the total cost stands at Tk 500 crore," he said.
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."
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