The government has been served with a legal notice seeking the release of Abdul Latif Siddique within seven days on the grounds that there is no legal basis of the cases filed against him.
The notice, served by Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua on behalf of Latif’s wife Laila Siddique, also warned the authorities yesterday of legal actions if he was not set free within the deadline.
Explaining why the cases against Latif were illegal, the notice stated that nobody shall be sued without permission from the home ministry for any act of offense committed outside the country.
The notice was sent to law secretary, home secretary, inspector general of police, inspector general of police (prison), superintendent of Dhaka Central Jail, its deputy jailer, Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner and Dhaka chief metropolitan magistrate.
Latif’s wife Laila alleged that all thirty cases had been filed against her husband for a single offence, which runs contrary to the Code of Criminal Procedure in the country.
Earlier on September 28, Latif spoke at a function, allegedly demeaning hajj, Tablighi Jamaat and defaming the prime minister’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, in New York.
He returned home on September 23 and surrendered before Dhanmondi police on Sept 25 in connection with the cases. He is now in Dhaka Central Jail.