No approval needed to arrest Latif Siddique: Speaker

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury has made it clear no prior approval is required to arrest Tangail-4 MP Abdul Latif Siddique outside the Parliament premises.

Former telecoms minister Siddique, who was dropped from the Cabinet and Awami League Presidium over his Hajj tirade, returned to Bangladesh Sunday night.

The media has been speculating about the Speaker's approval before arresting a lawmaker as some organisations including Hifazat-e Islam have threatened countrywide strikes to press for his arrest.

Siddique has been accused of hurting religious sentiments in a flurry of cases filed across the country after he made the remark in a discussion in New York in September. There are also warrants out for his arrest.

"The Rules of Procedure clearly states that Speaker's permission is mandatory to arrest an MP from the Parliament premises. However, the rules regarding the arrest of a lawmaker while Parliament is in session will be applicable for an MP," Chaudhury told bdnews24.com on Monday.

Abdul Latif Siddique (File Photo)

The Parliament's Rules of Procedure states: "No one can be arrested within the premises of Parliament without securing permission from the Speaker."

It defines premises as the assembly hall, lobby, gallery and any place specified by the Speaker temporarily.

The Rules of Procedure requires the authorities to inform the Speaker if an MP has been arrested, convicted or detained upon executive orders.

However, The East Pakistan Assembly Members' Privileges Act 1965 says that an MP is not required to appear before a civil or criminal court during the session and before or after seven days of a session.

An official of the Parliament Secretariat told bdnews24.com that the law formulated during the Pakistani regime was still in force.

Siddique is still a member of the 10th Parliament, which is in session, though he has been expelled from the Awami League.