The BNP yesterday demanded the resignation of Posts and Telecommunications Minister Abdul Latif Siddique and called for trying him under the existing laws for his controversial comments on hajj.
“Public wrath will not go away if he is only removed from the cabinet. People want a trial against him. We are demanding his trial under the existing law,” said BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan headquarters.
He said people were aggrieved over Latif’s “audacious and indecent” comments.
Earlier last week, while addressing a programme organised by immigrant Bangladeshis in New York, Latif Sidduque commented that he was against hajj and ijtema and that the pilgrimages were wastage of valuable money and manpower.
“Various political parties and organisations have been holding programmes protesting such comments, but police attacked those processions. We harshly condemn and protest such attacks,” Fakhrul said.
He claimed that the police attack on the processions proved that the government could not accept any difference of opinions.
Mentioning that Jessore Superintendent of Police Anisur Rahman’s wife was a ruling party MP, the BNP leader said, “That is why he cannot behave like an administrative officer, rather behaves like a party cadre.”
Fakhrul demanded immediate withdrawal of the SP and release of the detained leaders and activists.
Criticising the government for allowing political parties to hold rally only at the Suhrawardy Udyan, Fakhrul said: “The government does not allow us to hold rally in the capital, and now communication minister has said meetings will be held at only one place. Does he have the authority to say this? The main aim of such a statement is to establish one-party parliamentary system in the country, snatching away people’s fundamental rights.”
Reiterating the call to the government to resolve the political deadlock, he said: “BNP does not want confrontation, rather wants solution through talks. If the government considers BNP’s call for dialogue as its weak point, then it will be a big mistake. If the government does not respond to our call, then we will have no other option except waging a movement.”