A Dhaka court yesterday rejected a bail petition of sacked minister Abdul Latif Siddique in a case filed against him for hurting religious sentiments of Muslims.

Metropolitan Magistrate Md Rezaul Karim passed the order after Latif's counsel Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua submitted the bail petition before the court.

The case, one of the eight cases filed in Dhaka in this connection, was lodged by Lion Abu Bakar Siddique against the former post and telecommunications minister on October 2.

Latif was sent to jail after he surrendered before a court on November 25 in another case filed by advocate Abed Raza.

There are 22 cases in 18 districts against the former minister in connection with his comments against Hajj and Tablighi Jamaat at a programme in New York on September 28.

Earlier on December 7, he was denied bail in two cases filed against him over the same issue.

Latif was sacked from the cabinet on October 12. Later, he was expelled from the Awami League presidium, and also lost primary membership of the ruling party.