Former minister Abdul Latif Siddique at the Dhaka Central Jail gate after he was sent by CMM Court to the prison on Tuesday. sun photo All the speculations and enigma over former minister Abdul Latif Siddique is now over as he finally landed up in prison. The Chief Metropolitan Court in Dhaka sent him to jail when he was produced before it by police after he surrendered to Dhanmondi police stationTuesday afternoon. Abdul Latif Siddique returned to the country from India on Sunday night with a numbers of arrest warrants against him in cases filed against him for hurting the religious sentiment of the people. From the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport he went to undisclosed destination under the nose of the law enforces who did not arrest him despite the arrest warrants. Since then there was lot of speculation and rumour over his return to the country and evasion of arrest as his whereabouts remained unknown. Hefazat-e-Islam threatened to call hartal for Thursday if he is not arrested earlier and some Islamic parties demanded his arrest. However, Hefazat-e Islam withdrew Thursday’s hartal. Moreover, there was uproar in the parliament over Latif Siddique on Monday evening and some MPs demanded his immediate arrest. Besides, there was widespread rumour on Monday that Latif Siddique arrived in the High Court for seeking bail. But it later proved baseless. Some people alleged that Latif returned home under the arrangements with the government. Meanwhile, curtain drew on speculation, rumour and mystery over Latif Siddique when he surrendered to Dhanmondi police station at 1:30pm on Tuesday. From there police immediately took him to the CMM court. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Atiqur Rahman passed the order to send him to jail when officer-in-charge of Dhanmondi police station Abu Bakar Siddique produced Latif Siddique in his court. When the court asked Latif whether he had appointed any lawyer for him, the 77 years old lawmaker said: “I have not assigned any power of attorney and I will not appoint any lawyer. If the court gives permission then I myself will place my statement before the court.” But he was not allowed to speak for himself. Plaintiff ANM Abed Raza told the court that “Latif Siddique hurt the religious sentiment of 200 crore Muslims of the world, so I filed the case against him.” He also sought punishment for Latif siddique. After a short hearing of the case filed by pro-BNP lawyer Abed Raza on charges of hurting Muslims’ religious sentiments, the magistrate said as he did not sought bail so the court sends him to jail. Parvaj Alam, a bench-clark of CMM court said, Latif Siddique was also shown arrested in two more cases filed with Dhaka CMM court for the same charges. The two cases were filed by Badal Miah, a cowhide trader and a resident of Chawkbazar and one Al-hajj Lion Abu Bakar. A number of people including lawyers chanted various slogans and demanded punishment for his derogatory remarks when police took him to CMM court at 2:24 pm by a prison van (Dhaka metro-A 111629) under tight security. Meanwhile, angry people took out procession with shoes and brooms demanding punishment for Latif Siddique. They shouted slogan against Latif calling him murtad and atheist. After the court order, the former minister was taken to Dhaka Central Jail where he was entered through the main gate after 10 minutes of stalemate over passing through the pocket gate. Eyewitness said, Latif Siddique refused to enter into the Central Jail through a pocket gate saying “He is a running MP and he could not be treated like a common criminal.” After about 10 minutes in front of the main entrance gate where Latif Siddique stood surrounded by law enforcers, the jailer himself came out to escort the sacked minister inside. Later, the former minister entered into the jail when the main entry gate was opened. At that time, a number of journalists approached the MP from Tangail with questions regarding the court’s order that sent him to jail. Latif Siddique, however, did not answer any of the questions. Meanwhile, Hefazat-e-Islam has withdrawn the strike planned for Thursday. Azizul Haque Islamabadi, Organising secretary of Hefazat-e-Islam, said: “As Latif Siddique surrendered to the police and he is now in jail, we have decided not to enforce hartal on Thursday.” Hours after the surrender of Latif Siddique, AL joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, said “With the arrest of Abdul Latif Siddique, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has again proved that none would be spared if found involved in any unjustified activities.” “By expelling Latif Siddique from the presidium and primary membership of the party, Sheikh Hasina, also president the party, has proved that she is respectful to all religions” he said. Hours after Latif Siddique landed up in prison BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the government was compelled to send Latif Siddique to jail in the face of people’s pressure. Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat also cancelled the programme to besiege home ministry. Two days ago, the senior politician came back to the country from India in the face of outrage from several quarters. However, he had vanished without a trace after arrival. However, the five times MP from Tangail-4 constituency was sued in some 32 cases for his derogatory comments on hajj, Prophet Muhammad (SM) and Tablig Jamaat during a programme in New York on September 28. Multiple arrest warrants were issued against him. Of the 32 cases against Latif Siqqique 7 have been filed in Dhaka, 3 in Chittagong, 2 each in Narayanganj, Satkhira, Sylhet and Chandpur and one each in Gopalganj, Kishorganj, Noakhali, Barguna, Comilla, Jamalpur, Brahmanbaria, Sirajganj, Moulvibazar, Magura, Tangail, Barisal, Chapainawabganj and Habiganj. Warrants of arrest have been issued against him in more that one dozen case while in the rest he has been summoned to appear before courts. His derogatory comments sparked widespread criticisms and street protests in Bangladesh and elsewhere. In the wake of his comments, Latif was fired from the cabinet on October 12. Moreover, the Awami League Central Working Committee expelled him from the party presidium. On October 24, his primary membership in the AL was cancelled too, marking an end to Latif’s five-decade-long association with the party. Now, a controversy is prevailing on whether Latif Siddiqui is eligible to maintain his position as a MP from Tangail-4 constituency. Supreme Court lawyer Md Yunus Ali on Tuesday sent a legal notice to the Speaker and chief election commissioner for declaring Latif Siddique’s parliamentary seat vacant in 24 hours. Yunus will file a writ petition seeking necessary order from the HC if Latif Siddique’s parliament membership is not declared vacant in 24 hours, the lawyer said in the notice.
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