BNP on Thursday demanded that Posts and Telecommunications Minister Abdul Latif Siddique be tried under the law of the land alongside removing him from the cabinet for his anti-Islamic remarks.
“Latif Siddique has hurt the religious sentiment of the country’s majority people by making adverse remarks against the holy hajj which creates chaos in society. We demand he be punished under the country’s existing law,” said BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
He came up with the remarks at a press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office. The briefing was arranged to register the party’s protest against the ‘police’ attacks on processions of BNP men at different parts of the country against Latif Siddique for his disparaging comments on Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) and hajj.
Sought his comment about the ruling party’s announcement about removal of the defiant Posts and Telecommunications Minister, Fakhrul said people’s anger will not subside if Latif is only removed from the cabinet. “People want his exemplary punishment.”
On September 28, Latif Siddique at a reception in New York arranged by expatriates from Tangail said he is deadly against hajj and Tablig Jamaat.
According to video clips available on different websites ran by private TVs, he said, “During Hajj, so much manpower is wasted. More than 20 lakh people have gone to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. They have no work, no production and are offering only deduction. They only eat and go abroad spending the country’s money.”
Meanwhile, talking to Awami League leaders at Sylhet Osmani International Airport on the way to Dhaka from London after attending the 69th UN General Assembly in New York, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said Abdul Latif Siddique will not only be removed from cabinet but also from Awami League for his offensive comments against hajj, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and Tablig Jamaat.
Fakhrul said the country’s people have burst into anger demanding punishment of the Awami League minister for his audacious and disparaging remarks against their religious sentiment. “Different political parties and organisations are observing protest programmes across the country. Police attacked different peaceful protest rallies in Jessore, Natore and Rajshahi on Wednesday. We strong protest and condemn such police actions.”
The BNP leader alleged the government cannot tolerate different opinions and its opponents. “The police attacks on processions at different places are the glaring example of it.”
He demanded the government withdraw the Jessore police superintendent for his partisan role and abuse of power. “The wife of Jessore police supper an MP. So, he acts like a party cadre instead of an administrative official.”
Fakhrul also urged the government to immediately release the opposition leaders and activists arrested in Jessore, Natore and Rajshahi on Wednesday.
Source: UNB