Latif’s remarks indecent, offensive, say citizens
October 1, 2014 12:41 am
Staff Correspondent
Citizens, including talk-show speakers, pro-Awami League ulema and politicians on Tuesday termed ‘insane’ the posts, telecommunications and information technology minister Abdul Latif Siddique after he made derogatory remarks on Islam and talk-show speakers.They also demanded his resignation and exemplary punishment.
Latif Siddique, on Sunday made derogatory remarks about hajj, a main pillar of Islam, and said he was dead against hajj and Tabligh Jamaat.The minister, while addressing a gathering at Jackson Heights in New York, also launched a virulent attack on TV talk-show speakers and did not spare even the prime minister’s information technology adviser Sajib Wazed Joy, also the son of Sheikh Hasina.
Islami Oikya Jote chairman Misbahur Rahman Chowdhury, an ally of the ruling AL, said the minister’s remarks proved that he was totally ignorant of Islam. ‘I think he lost his mental balance while delivering his speech,’ he added.‘Latif Siddique has hurt the sentiment of 1.5 billion Muslims of the world and must be given exemplary punishment for making derogatory remarks about Islam and its Prophet,’ he said.About Latif Siddique’s indecent remarks about the talk-show speakers, Chowdhury, also a regular talk- show speaker, said, ‘I will not make comments on his filthy remarks as I do not know what kind of family he comes from.’
Former secretary of Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association SM Rezaul Karim said Latif Siddique’s remarks were ‘indecent’ and ‘offensive’. ‘His statement goes against the spirit of free-thinking,’ he added.Rezaul Karim said the minister’s statement was a manifestation of ‘mental illness’.AL presidium member Nooh-ul Alam Lenin said the minister’s unbalanced and abnormal remarks had embarrassed both the government as well as the party.
AL lawmaker Israfil Alam, also a regular talk-show speaker, said, ‘His [Latif Siddique] remarks have embarrassed us all.’
Terming the minister an ‘insane’ and ‘indecent man’, Dhaka University law professor Asif Nazrul said he should be either sent to jail or a mental hospital.
He said, ‘The minister has committed crimes under penal code by making derogatory remarks about Islam. He must be arrested and given exemplary punishment.’
Senior jurist Shahdeen Malik said he was not surprised by the minister’s remarks as people were nowadays hearing and witnessing such irresponsible utterances and conducts by ministers. ‘In a democracy, such irresponsible comments would have led to resignation of the minister. But, ours is not a democracy,’ he added.
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Latif’s remarks indecent, offensive, say citizens | New Age
Latif’s remarks indecent, offensive, say citizens | New Age
