Staff Reporter :The alliance of some Islamic parties– Sammilito Islami Dalsamuho– is scheduled to observe their countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal for today as their demand for arresting recently sacked minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui is not met within the timeframe. The alliance wants capital punishment of Latif Siddiqui for his derogatory remarks on Hajj and Tablig Jamaat. Issuing an ultimatum to the government to arrest Latif Siddiqui by October 15, Sammilito Islami Dalsamuho had announced of observing hartal for today. Later, they extended the timeframe and asked the government to arrest him by October 22. Maulana Zafrullah Khan, secretary general of the alliance and Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon, said that they would launch tougher movement if the government does pay heed to the demand. He warned that they would go for continuous movement if the government creates obstacle during the hartal. The alliance on Saturday brought out procession in several parts of the country in support of the hartal. A procession was brought out at Lalbagh area in the city led by Maulana Zafrullah Khan. Jamaat-e-Islami extended its moral support to the hartal. The party nayebe Ameer Prof Mujibur Rahman at a statement on Saturday said that the countrymen want capital punishment of Latif Siddiqui. For this reason, they will make the hartal a success. Latif Siddiqui at a programme in New York on September 29 made the derogatory comments. He was sacked as posts, telecommunications and information and communication technology (ITC) minister on October 12. His primary membership was also cancelled from the ruling party on October 24.
