DHAKA: A Dhaka court on Thursday issued arrest warrant against recently sacked posts, telecommunications and ICT minister Abdul Lafit Siddique for his derogatory remarks on hajj and Tabligh Jamaat.

Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Yunus Khan passed the order on Thursday.

On September 28, Latif Siddique, a programme organised by the Tangail Samity at a New York hotel, made remarks against religious sentiments.

He opined that hajj is a waste of manpower. Those who perform hajj do not have any productivity. They deduct from the economy, spend a lot of money abroad.

Indicating Tabligh Jamaat, he said they create huge traffic congestion in the name of Ijtema.

His derogatory comments sparked controversy in home and abroad.

Later, the government removed him from the cabinet and the ruling Awami League also expelled him from the party post.

BDST: 1706 HRS, OCT 30, 2014