Latif's bail plea turned down
A Dhaka court yesterday denied bail to sacked minister Abdul Latif Siddique in a case filed against him for hurting religious sentiments of Muslims.
Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzaman Nur passed the order after Latif's counsel barrister Jyotirmoy Barua submitted the bail petition before the court.
The former post and telecommunications minister was sent to jail after he surrendered before a Dhaka court on November 25 in the case filed against him by advocate Abed Raza for his anti-hajj remarks. On that day, Latif did not appoint any lawyer to defend him.
During yesterday's proceedings, Latif's lawyer told the court that he filed the petition as the court had the legal means to grant him bail.
On the other hand, the complainant, who was present at the courtroom during the hearing, opposed the bail petition saying Latif, with his provocative statement, has not only hurt the religious sentiment of the Muslims in Bangladesh but also of Muslims around the world.
Latif was not produced before the court as he was admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) on Saturday due to his chest pain and high blood pressure.
The court fixed March 15 for hearing on charge framing against the AL leader. Latif returned on November 24 after one and a half months' stay in India.
The ex-minister faces 22 cases in 18 districts for hurting religious sentiments. Of those, eight were filed in Dhaka.
He was sacked from the cabinet on October 12 following his comments against hajj and Tablighi Jamaat at a programme in New York on September 28.
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