HC grants bail to Latif Siddique

The High Court on Tuesday granted bail to detained lawmaker and sacked minister Abdul Latif Siddique in the cases filed against him over hurting the ‘religious sentiment of Muslims’.

A bench of Justice Md Nizamul Huq and Justice Farid Ahmed Shibli passed the order after hearing seven bail petitions moved by Supreme Court lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua.

The bench also directed the government to explain why Latif Siddique would not be granted permanent bail.

Latif Siddique, however, could not be out of the jail as he was wanted in at least three cases and court warrants were pending against him, said Jyotirmoy Barua.

Latif had surrendered before the Dhanmondi police station on November 25 last year, two days after he returned from the US.

The ex-minister faces 33 cases filed with different courts across the country after he made controversial comments against hajj and Tablighi Jamaat at a programme in New York on September 28 last year.

Latif was sacked from the cabinet on October 12 last year. Later, he was expelled from the Awami League presidium committee, and his primary membership of the ruling party was rescinded.

He is undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University due to his chest pain and high blood pressure.

SRJ