Rizvi demands Murad’s arrest

BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has demanded the arrest of State Minister for Information Murad Hassan. Rizvi said in a media briefing on Tuesday Resignation of Murad is not enough. The government must order his arrest and ensure his punishment.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ordered Murad to resign from his cabinet post on Monday after a scandalous audio leak went viral on social media.

Murad Hassan had been under increasing criticism by various quarters for his disrespectful remarks on women in an interview on social media. A number of audios and videos containing indecent remarks by Murad Hassan also went viral on social media during the last few days.

A two-year-old phone conversation of the junior minister with actor Mamnun Hasan Emon and actress Mahiya Mahi recently went viral on social media. In that audio clip, Murad made "derogatory comments" on the actress, threatened her and gave her an alleged indecent proposal.

Actress Mahiya Mahi later took to social media and confirmed that it was her in the phone conversation with Murad. The conversation took place two years ago, according to her.

Murad emailed his letter of resignation to his office on Tuesday.

“A person like Murad has no rightful place in politics. The obscene language used by him proves his inability to be a politician. Murad must be removed from every engagement he belongs to in his existing party. Sacking him only from the cabinet is not enough,” Rizvi said.

MSH