BNP asks govt to punish Latif Siddique in line with law

The BNP has asked the government to punish Abdul Latif Siddique under the law apart from removing him from the Cabinet for his remarks over Hajj.

Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, at a media call on Thursday, claimed the Awami League leader had ‘hurt religious sentiments’ with his ‘rude remarks’.

Asked about his reaction on Siddique’s expulsion from the Cabinet, he said, “Removing him from the Cabinet won’t mitigate the people’s anger. They want his prosecution.”

File Photo

Telecoms Minister Siddique at a programme in New York on Sept 28 said he was “firmly against” Hajj and Tablig.

He came under fire after a video clip of his comments went viral on the social media.

Two days later, Awami League’s Joint Secretary Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif told the media that the minister had been “sacked” from the Cabinet over his remarks.

On Thursday, the party’s Organising Secretary Misbah Uddin Siraj informed reporters that Siddique would be removed from the presidium as well.

Fakhrul claimed the minister’s remarks had given rise to “disorder and chaos” in society. “We demand his punishment under existing laws.”

The press conference was held to protest against 'police action' on Wednesday's BNP agitations over Siddique’s remarks.

“Abdul Latif Siddique has drawn the wrath of the people with his arrogant and offensive comments,” Fakhrul said.

He claimed police had attacked their ‘peaceful’ programmes in Jessore, Rajshahi and Natore.

“These attacks establish the fact that the government is intolerant towards others’ views,” the BNP leader said in his condemnation of police action.