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Siddique may lose cabinet berth

PM decides to drop him for derogatory remarks on hajj, Tablighi Jamaat

Hasan Jahid Tusher
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday decided to sack Abdul Latif Siddique from the cabinet over his comments on hajj, Prophet Muhammad (SM) and Tabligh Jamaat, highly placed sources said.
Latifs remarks in New York on Sunday triggered widespread criticisms at home and abroad, and embarrassed the government.
A top official at the Prime Minister’s Office said Hasina was annoyed at the comments by the posts, telecommunications and information technology minister at a discussion at Jackson Heights.
The PM's decision came hours after a video of the discussion caused uproar in the social media and sparked protests in Bangladesh and in the US.
However, no official confirmation of Latifs removal was available.
Sources told The Daily Star that Hasina already directed PMO officials to prepare papers for his removal. The PM, who went to the US to attend the 69th UN General Assembly, will also speak to the president in this regard. Hasina is expected to return on Thursday.
Latif is also on the PM’s entourage.
Under constitutional provisions, the premier can ask any minister or state minister to resign anytime. If s/he refuses to do so, the PM can advise the president to dismiss the minister or state minister in question.
Meanwhile, in an interview with the BBC Bangla yesterday, Latif said he stood by his remarks, but would withdraw those only if the PM asked him to do so.
Speaking from Mexico, he said he made the comments on hajj as a free and
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modern man. "There is no question of my resigning under pressure." WHATTHE MINISTER SAID
At the programme organised by the Tangail Samity at a New York 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 atTk 500 crore,'" he said.
Speaking about the history of hajj, he said Prophet Muhammad 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 generate income.
Criticising Tabligh Jamaat, he said, "Tabligh Jamaat brings together about 20 lakh people every year. It has no specific duties. It just clogs traffic across the country."
Latif also castigated Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, saying, "Why do you often mention of Joy? Who is 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 1 think right. Why have you come here? Who has invited you here?" 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 Latifs 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.
HM Ershad, Jatiya Party Chairman and special envoy to the PM, demanded that Latif is immediately arrested and duly punished.
LATIF ON BBC
The minister outright rejected suggestions that he will quit, saying, ” I will do nothing. I will obey the directives of the prime minister."
He said he did not yet talk to the PM or any other AL leader on the issue.
About the call for withdrawing his remarks, Latif said he only spoke about his beliefs, which may hurt some people, and they too are expressing their views “hurting my sentiment".
He said he took the full responsibility for what he said and that there was nothing to regret.
"The prime minister has given me some responsibilities. She will do whatever she thinks best," he said.
Latif added he did not make the comment in Bangladesh.
T thought I came to a free world where everyone is a free bird, there is no bar to doing anything. I was not aware that there were so many black cats here.”
When pointed out that many people have been punished for exercising their right to free speech in Bangladesh, the minister said, "If it (my comment] is a violation of any law, then I will face punishment. I will accept the punishment happily," he said.