The alliance of Islamic parties will observe hartal on October 26 if the government will not arrest former minister Abdul Latif Siddique by October 22 for his comments on hajj.
\nCondemning the \u2018controversial\u2019 remarks made by the minister, the parties also announced protest programmes and specials prayers in all the mosques across the country on Friday.
\nThe secretary general of the alliance, Maulana Zafrullah Khan, second-in-command of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon, came up with the announcement of programmes at a press conference held at Reporters\u2019 Unity in the capital on Thursday afternoon.
\nZafrullah said that We are giving an ultimatum till October 22 to the government. If they do not arrest Latif within the stipulated time, we will observe a nationwide general strike on October 26.
\nEarlier, the Islamic parties warned of enforcing a nationwide shutdown in this connection on October 1.
\nWhile addressing a programme in the US on September 28, Latif made derogatory remarks on Hajj, Tablighi Jamaat and the prime minister\u2019s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
\nThe minister\u2019s \u2018derogatory\u2019 comments on Hajj have sparked widespread criticism both at home and abroad.
\nFollowing the issue, the government sacked the minister from the cabinet on October 12 and the same day the Awami League also removed Latif from its presidium body and temporarily cancelled his primary party membership.<\/p>\n