DHAKA: A Dhaka court on Sunday denied bail petition of sacked minister Abdul Latif Siddique in a case filed against him for hurting religious sentiment.

The court of Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzaman Nur passed the order after hearing on his bail petition.  

Earlier in the day, Lawyer Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, on behalf of Latif Siddique, filed the petition.

Besides, the court also re-fixed March 15 for his indictment hearing of the case filed by Advocate AMM Abed Raza.

On November 30, Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Bikash Kumar Shaha ordered to transfer the case to the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzaman Nur to begin trial proceedings.  

However, the former posts, telecommunications and information technology minister’s offensive remarks about hajj and Tabligh Jamaat at a view-exchanging meeting in New York on September 28 triggered widespread criticisms both at home and abroad.

Later, he was dropped from the cabinet and expelled from Awami League for his derogatory remarks.

Meanwhile, several cases were filed and arrest warrants were also issued against him in this regard.

Latif Siddique returned home from abroad on November 23.

He was arrested by Dhanmondi Thana police on November 26 upon his surrender and sent to jail the same day.

BDST: 1120 HRS, DEC 07, 2014/ updated 1145hrs