A Dhaka court yesterday again rejected a bail petition of sacked minister Abdul Latif Siddique in a case filed against him for hurting religious sentiments of Muslims.
Metropolitan Magistrate Md Rezaul Karim passed the order after hearing the petition submitted by Latif’s counsel Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua.
Latif’s counsel told the court that the charges against his client are bailable, and since he is ill, the plea may be granted.
The case, one of the seven cases filed with Dhaka chief metropolitan magistrate court, was lodged by Lion Abu Bakar Siddique on October 2.
Yesterday, Latif was not produced before the court as he is undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.
Earlier, he was denied bail in two similar cases filed against him over the same allegations.
On November 25, Magistrate Atiqur Rahman sent Latif Siddique to jail in a case filed for his remarks, after Dhanmondi police produced him before the court.
The former minister faces 33 cases filed with courts across the country following his comments on hajj and Tabligh Jamaat at a programme in New York on September 28.
Latif said, “During Hajj, much manpower is wasted. Over 20 lakh people have gone to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. They have no work, no production and are offering only deduction.”
He added some 20 lakh Tablighi Jamaat people get together annually. They do not do any work, except for halting traffic movement in the whole country.
Amid massive criticisms for such comments, the government sacked him from the cabinet on October 12.
Later, he was expelled from the post of Awami League presidium member, and also lost primary membership.
