DHAKA: Abdul Latif Siddique, the minister of post, telecommunications and information technology, was sued for hurting religious sentiment on Wednesday.

At least six cases have been filed against him who has crated a controversy through his recent ‘irresponsible’ remarks that demeaned Hajj.

However, among the cases, two have been filed in the capital while three in Chittagong and one in Sylhet.

Sources said that in Dhaka, Supreme Court senior lawyer AMM Abed Raja filed a case against Latif Siddique with Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court under  section 295 (Ka) and 298 (2) of the penal code.

On the other hand, Alhaj M Badal field another case with same court under same law.

However, the hearing of the first case will be held after a while at the court of Metropolitan magistrate Mizanur Rahman while magistrate Rezaul Karim’s court will entertain the hearing of another case.

In Chittagong, three cases have been filed against him for hurting religious sentiment by three lawyers – Abdus Sattar, Iftekhar Hossain Mahasin and a female lawyer.

Nevertheless, lawyer Masudur Rahman Khan Munna also filed a case against Latif Siddique at Sylhet Metropolitan Magistrate Court.

Earlier, Latif Siddique demeaned Hajj in his speech on Sunday while addressing a programme organised by the Tangail Samity at a New York hotel in USA.

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.

Pointing to Tablig Jamaat, he said Tablig Jamaat create huge traffic congestion in the name of Ijtima.

His derogatory comments sparked controversy in home and abroad.

According to media reports, the government on Tuesday has already taken decision to remove him from the cabinet.

BDST: 1144 HRS, OCT 01, 2014/ updated 1212hrs/updated 1408hrs