Drama as Latif Siddique refuses to enter jail through ‘pocket gate’

Authorities had to open the main entrance to the Dhaka Central Jail as former minister Abdul Latif Siddique refused to enter through a ‘pocket gate’ on Tuesday.

Siddique, dropped from the Cabinet and expelled from the Awami League over his Hajj rant, was sent to jail by Dhaka’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrates Court after he surrendered at Dhanmondi Police Station earlier in the day.

Siddique was whisked off in a prison van afterwards for the Dhaka Central Jail.

The Tangail-4 MP faces several cases across the country including seven in Dhaka accusing him of hurting religious sentiments. There were also warrants out for his arrest.

He had returned to Dhaka Sunday night.

At 3.25pm, he got off from the van in front of the prison. And that’s when the 77-year-old politician said he would not enter the prison bowing down his head through a ‘pocket gate’ at the main entrance.

“I am still an MP. I have not entered or exited from jail through pocket gates in the last 30 years,” he said.

The five-time MP made it clear to the police that the main entrance had to be opened to take him inside.

Prison officials said the ‘pocket gate’ within the steel-structure main entrance was usually used to bring in and out inmates. The main entrance would be only opened when prison vans and vehicles needed to enter the premises or on special occasions.

The police and prison officials tried to talk Siddique into entering through the small gate but failed.

The press pack, who followed the prison van from the court, kept hurling questions at the former Awami League policymaker.

“Are you satisfied with the court’s order, sir?”

“Why did not you appoint a lawyer? Why not file a bail plea, sir?”

“Sir, please say one thing, are you satisfied with the court’s order?”

Clad in white shoes, black trousers and a white shirt, the lawmaker only shook his heads to signal that he will not speak.

Siddique, who has lost political credibility over controversial remarks, appeared calm at the time.

The police had to cordon him off from the reporters, who were desperate to get a comment.

They told the former minister that it would be a tough task to handle security if the main entrance were opened in presence of so many journalists and requested him to enter through the smaller gate.

But Siddique would not budge and the tension rose at the jail gate.

At one stage, Dhaka Central Jail’s Superintendent Farman Ali came out and the main entrance was opened at 3.42pm. Siddique entered the prison with the jail superintendent.

Speaking to bdnews24.com later, Ali said that there were specific rules about who can enter or exit from which gate. The jailor, however, can get in or out through the main entrance.

Asked about the exception in this case, he said: ”I have entered and he entered with me. There has been no exception.”