Another arrest warrant issued against Latif
Another arrest warrant issued against Latif
A Dhaka Court today issued an arrest warrant against recently sacked minister Abdul Latif Siddique in a case filed against him for his remarks on hajj, Prophet Muhammad (SM) and Tablighi Jamaat.
Metropolitan Magistrate SM Ashiqur Rahman issued the third arrest warrant against him as Latif failed to appear before the court following its earlier order.
Advocate Abed Raja filed the case with the same court against the former posts and telecommunications and ICT minister on October 2.
Hearing the charges brought against him, the court issued a summon asking him to appear before the court today (October 28).
A total of three arrest warrants have so far been issued from Dhaka court against Latif Siddique for hurting the people’s religious sentiment.
The first arrest warrant was issued on October 15 and the second one on October 20.
Siddique who is now staying in Kolkata was removed from the cabinet as well as the Awami League presidium on October 12.
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."