Radical Islamist platform Hefazat-e-Islam after yesterday’s Jummah prayer demonstrated in Chittagong’s Anderkilla area demanding that sacked Awami League minister Abdul Latif Siddique be rearrested and sentenced to death.
Its members brought out a procession from Anderkillah Shahi Jam-e Masjid and marched through different points of the city before stopping on Chittagong Press Club premises.
Mainuddin Ruhi, central joint secretary general of Hefazat, said protests against atheists started from Chittagong back in 2013. “We will resume protests from here after the month of Ramadan, demanding death penalty for notorious atheist Abdul Latif Siddique,” he said.
“The government staged a drama over Latif Siddique issue and people now want to see the conclusion of it. Hefazat Nayeb-e-ameer Mufti Izharul Islam Chowdhury was not granted bail in just a single lawsuit [filed over grenade blast at his Lalkhan Bazar Madrasa] while Latif has secured bailed in as many as 19 cases,” said Azizul Haque Islamabadi, its organising secretary.
Formed in 2010, Hefazat is a Qawmi madrasa-based platform having association with radical Islamist parties and groups.
It carried out demonstrations in early 2013 against the activists demanding death penalty for the 1971 war criminals terming them atheists. They also placed 13-point demands which the government termed contrary to the constitution.
“Latif has enraged the people of the country by making derogatory remarks on Islam and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). We will sacrifice our lives to protect Islam if necessary.”
On Tuesday, Hefazat issued an ultimatum, calling for the arrest of Latif Siddique by Thursday. Its leaders have also threatened to kill the former minister wherever he is found.
Latif, who also lost his membership of the Awami League, was freed on June 29 after he had obtained bail in cases filed on charges of hurting religious sentiment of the Muslims.
