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Removed from AL presidium Primary membership also suspended

Staff Correspondent
Hours after his removal from the cabinet, Abdul Latif Siddique lost his presidium post in the ruling Awami League and his primary membership suspended.
The AL Central Working Committee (ALCWC), the highest decision-making body of the party, made the decision at a meeting last night, as a punishment for hurting religious sentiments of people and acting against the party constitution as well as its ideologies and declarations.
AL spokesperson Syed Ashraful Islam briefed reporters about the outcome of the nearly three-hour-long closed-door meeting that ended around 9:45pm.
Held at the Gono Bhaban with AL chief Sheikh Hasina in the chair, the meeting was convened to decide the fate of Latif after he made derogatory remarks on hajj, Prophet
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Muhammad (PBUH) and Tablighi Jamaat in the US late last month.
Once the primary membership of Latif in the AL is cancelled, his parliament seat would also be announced vacant, said Ashraf, responding to a query.
However, according to article-70 of the constitution, if Latif, an AL lawmaker from Tangail-4 constituency, is expelled from the AL, he will retain his parliamentary membership. His membership in parliament would be cancelled if he resigns from the party.
Latif was elected a presidium member in the AL's 18th council held in 2009.
Latifs remarks on hajj and Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) were not acceptable in any way, Hasina said in her opening speech to the meeting when the press was allowed in the room.
“We believe in secularism but this does not mean a state without religion. What Latif Siddique has said is an evil act. I don't know why he made such a statement," Hasina was quoted as saying during the closed-door meeting.
She also said Latif has been relieved from the cabinet as per constitutional provisions.
Briefing newsmen, Ashraf said Latif would be served a show-cause notice today to clarify as to why his primary membership in the AL should not be permanently cancelled. He would have to respond within seven days.
When The Daily Star had talked
with Latif over the phone Saturday night, he said he would not feel sorry if he was removed from the AL presidium. "But I have the right to work for the Awami League and I want to remain a primary member of the party until my death."
He had said if he was to be served a show-cause notice, he would respond and his response would clarify his position.
Sources said at the beginning of the meeting, AL presidium member Engr Mosharraf Hossain demanded expulsion of Latif from the party and raised questions about Latif's intention behind making such a statement.
Hasina and Ashraf during the meeting asked all to clarify their positions on the Latif issue.
Latifs remarks created an embarrassing situation for AL leaders Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya in Saudi Arabia when they were performing Hajj, sources quoted the two as saying.
AL leader Mannujan Sufian told the meeting that Latif also made derogatory statements against Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Hasina's son. The prime minister responded by saying that she would not have been hurt this much had Latif "slapped" Joy instead of the statement he made about hajj, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Tablighi Jamaat.
Hasina said facing criticism was part of politics.
AL leader Abdur Rahman called Latif a "mad man", the sources said.