High Court grants bail to Latif Siddique, stays proceedings in seven cases

The High Court has granted former minister Abdul Latif Siddique bail in seven cases for ‘hurting religious sentiments’ and halted proceedings in those cases. 

Court CorrespondentSupreme bdnews24.com
Published : 26 May 2015, 10:51 AM
Updated : 26 May 2015, 11:23 AM

The former Awami League leader, however, will not be released from jail, since he is still shown arrested in four others cases.

In all the cases, he is accused of ‘hurting religious sentiments’ through his remarks over Hajj and Tablighi Jamaat.

The High Court bench of Justice Md Nizamul Huq and Justice Farid Ahmed gave the order and issued a rule on Tuesday after hearing the bail petition.

Barrister Jotirmoy Barua represented Siddique while Deputy Attorney General Sheikh AKM Maniruzzaman Kabir argued on behalf of the state.
 
In September last year, Siddique allegedly made derogatory remarks on Hajj while speaking at a programme in New York.
 
Following the incident, dozens of cases were filed against him in different courts across Bangladesh.

Apart from being sacked by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he also lost his Awami League membership following the remarks.

On Nov 23, 2014, Siddique returned from India.

The next day, he surrendered before a court that sent him to prison.