Govt was aware

The government knew that Abdul Latif Siddiqui might come back anytime, but it took no steps to dissuade him from doing so, risking another bout of uproar.

An intelligence agency in a special report alerted the home ministry that Latif might fly in from Kolkata any day.

On receiving the report, the ministry's political wing wrote a letter to the police chief, expressing concerns about the security risk of the controversial former minister.

Dated November 5 and signed by Deputy Secretary Habibur Rahman, the letter was received by the police headquarters on November 9.

Proving the intelligence report true, Latif showed up at Hazrat Shahjalal Int'l Airport on Monday night. He, however, sneaked out dodging the media.

Amid storm of controversies for anti-Islam comments in New York on September 28, he had been staying in India for about one and a half months.

On arrival by an Air India flight (AI 230) around 8:20pm on Monday, he went straight to his Gulshan house by his personal vehicle (Dhaka Metro Ga-35-7785), sources said.

He left the house about one and half hours later and spent the night somewhere in Gulshan, said sources including one of his close aides.  All the while intelligence officials followed him from close proximity, they added.   

But yesterday, the government acted strangely, looking surprised at his arrival. With over a dozen cases filed against him and warrants issued for his arrest, law enforcement agencies appeared clueless about his whereabouts.

Latif was sacked from the cabinet on October 12 following his derogatory comments on hajj and Tablighi Jamaat at a programme in New York.

The remarks triggered outrage at home and abroad, especially from Islamists.

On October 24, his primary membership in the AL was cancelled, marking an end to his five-decade association with the party.

A total of 22 cases have been filed against him in 18 districts for offending religious sentiments of the Muslims.

The intelligence report sent to the home ministry read that Latif might come under attack by religion-based political parties and organisations if he was back.

And some opposition parties and vested quarters might create anarchy centring on Latif's return as they have no other important issues to cash in on for launching an anti-government movement.

The report also said it has been learnt from different sources that Latif, who was in India, might return home any day through Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. It's also possible that he would enter through a land port considering his current position and present circumstances.

The report was attached to the home ministry letter to police. The Daily Star has obtained copies of the documents.

MEETINGS WITH PM

During the parliament session yesterday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sat with Law Minister Anisul Huq and State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal at her Jatiya Sangsad office, sources said.

Later, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury met the PM at the Gono Bhaban, sources added.

Talking to this correspondent, Kamal said the PM gave him directives regarding Latif Siddique. He, however, didn't make clear exactly what Hasina had said.

Asked if Hasina ordered Latif's arrest, legal issues are now being examined. "Just wait. You will get to know." 

The premier is leaving the county for Nepal today to join the 18th Saarc Summit in Kathmandu.

ULTIMATUMS

The National Democratic Front (NDF) led by National People's Party (NPP) yesterday said it would enforce a daylong hartal today if the government did not arrest Latif by midnight.

On behalf of the alliance, NPP chief Sheikh Shawkat Hossain Nilu made the announcement at a press conference in the capital.

The Hefajat-e-Islam, from a meeting with Shah Ahmed Shafi in the chair at Hathazari madrasa in Chittagong yesterday noon, threatened to observe a countrywide daylong hartal on Thursday if Latif was not arrested by tomorrow.

Hefajat's ally Islami Oikya Jote, also a component of BNP-led alliance, issued the same ultimatum.

Another Islamist group, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamat, from a press conference at Chittagong Press Club yesterday, called protest rallies across the country for today to press for Latif's arrest. The organisation earlier announced a plan to lay siege to the home ministry on Thursday.

The Jatiya Party in a press statement expressed a strong condemnation for the “government inaction” regarding Latif's arrest.

In the statement, JP Chairman HM Ershad and Secretary General Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu criticised the government, saying how Latif could have left the airport despite arrest warrants on him.