Islamist groups threaten shutdown if Latif Siddique not arrested

A coalition of Islamist groups has threatened to enforce shutdown on Oct 26 if minister Abdul Latif Siddique is not arrested for his remarks against Hajj.

‘Sammilito Islami Dal-samuho’ has also scheduled countrywide protests for Friday.

Mawlana Zafrullah Khan, secretary general of the coalition, said authorities must arrest the ruling Awami League leader by Oct 15.

Speaking at a press brief at the National Press Club on Wednesday, he claimed the Cabinet was trying to scam the people about his expulsion from government. “This is their clever politics.”

“We demand that he be arrested and put on trial for hurting religious sentiments by making inappropriate comments on Islam."

Two Dhaka courts have already summoned the minister for posts, telecommunications and information technology following cases filed over hurting religious sentiments.

Two more cases were filed in Chittagong and Sylhet on Wednesday.

The Awami League leader said he was 'against Hajj, Tabligh Jamaat and Jamaat-e-Islami' at an event organised by expatriates in New York on Sunday.

"So much manpower is wasted over Hajj. Two million people are now in Saudi Arabia for Hajj. They have no work or role in production. They only eat and go abroad using the country’s money.”