PM decides to drop him for derogatory remarks on hajj, Tablighi Jamaat
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday decided to sack Abdul Latif Siddique from the cabinet over his comments on hajj, Prophet Muhammad (SM), Tabligh Jamaat and the PM’s son, highly placed sources have said.
Latif’s remarks on Sunday in New York triggered widespread criticisms at home and abroad and caused much embarrassment for the government.
A top official at the Prime Minister’s Office said Hasina was clearly annoyed at the posts, telecommunications and information technology minister’s comments at a discussion at Jackson Heights.
The PM’s decision came hours after a video of the discussion created quite a stir on social media and sparked protests in the US and in Bangladesh.
However, no official statement was available about Latif Siddique’s removal. It was not also clear if the prime minister asked Latif to resign.
But sources told The Daily Star that Hasina already directed PMO officials to prepare necessary documents for Latif’s removal. The PM, who went to the US to attend the 69th UNGA also spoke to the president over the phone in this regard.
Hasina is expected to return on Thursday.
Under the constitutional provisions, the premier can ask any minister or state minister to resign anytime. If s/he refuses to do so, the PM then can advise the president to terminate the minister or state minister in question.
WHAT THE MINISTER SAID
At the programme organised by the Tangail unit AL at a hotel, Latif said he was against hajj and Tabligh Jamaat more than he was against the Jamaat-e-Islami.
“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.
“If 1,00,000 people perform Hajj every year on an average and spend Tk 5 lakh each, then the total cost stands at Tk 500 crore,” he said.
Speaking about the history of hajj, he said Prophet Muhammad, son of Abdullah, was worried about the people of Arab as they were robbers. The prophet then made an arrangement that his followers meet at a place every year, which will create income.
Criticising Tabligh Jamaat, he said, “Tabligh Jamaat brings together about 20 lakh people every year. It has no specific duties. It just clogs traffics across the country.”
Latif also castigated Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, saying, “Why do you often mention of Joy? Who is this Joy Bhai? Joy is nobody in the government. He cannot make any decision.”
On talk shows, the minister said: “Those who attend talk shows are basically ‘talk man’. They jabber in front of cameras as they have nothing to do.”
He went on to use unprintable offensive words about the talk show speakers and behaved indecently with the journalists present at the discussion.
He snubbed a journalist and said, “Should I talk as you wish? I am telling what I think right. Why have you come here? Who has invited you here?”
THE REACTION
In Dhaka, Road Transport and Bridge Minister Obaidul Quader told journalists yesterday that Hasina was informed of those comments.
Latif will face action both by the government and the party upon the PM’s return, he added.
AL insiders said Latif, also a presidium member of the party, might even be expelled from the party.
The BNP, Jatiya Party, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Jamaat-e-Islami, Hefajat-e-Islam, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, and several other organisations also strongly protested Latif’s remarks and demanded his removal from the cabinet.
Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor told this correspondent that a conscious person could not make such statements. “The prime minister herself is good enough for taking action against him.”
AL acting chief Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury also came down hard on Latif.
Source: The Daily Star
