Latif Siddiqui faces removal

Sagar Biswas :The government has decided to axe Post and Tele Communication Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui for making derogatory remarks on Hajj and undermining Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, while addressing a gathering on Sunday at Jackson Heights in New York. The final decision in this regard, however, may come after the Prime Minister’s return from London on early Friday on conclusion of her visit to New York after attending 69th session of United Nations General Assembly.A senior official of the Cabinet Division requesting not to be named said the Jute Minister will be removed from the cabinet and his office was informed about the decision on Tuesday morning.”PM is very much annoyed due to ‘talkativeness’ of the said minister who bears a important portfolio,” the official added. Siddiqui on Sunday said that he was against Hajj and Tabligh Jamaat. He also made objectionable remarks about Joy and television talkers.The video-footage of the minister’s remarks is available on internet. The PM, who is now in London in a private visit reportedly watched the videotape and conveyed her decision to close associates about Siddiqui, sources said.Siddiqui’s removal from cabinet was confirmed by competent source at the Prime Minister’s Office. Besides, several incumbent ministers and senior Awami League leaders have also confirmed about the expulsion of Sidduiqui.”The decision of his [Siddiqui] expulsion will be taken after PM returns,” Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said, and added, “Siddiqui’s remarks about Joy are not true. He is information and technology affairs adviser to the PM. He is our future leader.”Siddiqui’s comments raised huge criticism not only in his party, but also in opposition political camps. AL acting president and also Deputy Leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury said, “Don’t pay attention to his filthy words. He is a trash talker.”Chairman of Jatiya Party and special envoy to the PM HM Ershad demanded immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of Siddiqui.Besides, BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan and Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi demanded his expulsion from the cabinet. “We condemn his comment against one of the five pillars of Islam. We demand that he will be expelled, arrested and punished,” said Nazrul Islam Khan.Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, a Chittagong-based Islamist organization, yesterday demanded his expulsion from the cabinet within the next 24 hours.Hefazat also called for arrest and exemplary punishment of Siddiqui announcing two-day programme protesting it.Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, another Chittagong-based Islamist group, also staged agitation yesterday and formed a human chain in the city.Besides, President of Bikalpa Dhara Profressor AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury strongly condemned Siddiqui’s remarks and asked the PM to take action against him.  What Siddiqui said in his speech “Huge manpower is wasted during Hajj. I am dead against hajj and Tabligh Jamaat. I am more against the Hajj and Tabligh Jamaat than Jamaat-e-Islami. Around 20 lakh people have gone to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. They’ve no work, no production. They only cause deduction. They are taking the country’s money to Saudi Arabia.”He also made harsh comments on Prophet Muhammad [pbuh], Hajj and people of the then Saudi Arabia. “About 20 lakh Tabligh Jamaat people get together annually who don’t do any work except halting traffic movement in the country,” he said.He said, “I don’t make any favour to the people, who gave me Tk one lakh after I sought Tk 4 lakh as donation after the political changeover on January 11 in 2007.”He attacked the participants of television talk shows using obscene words. He further undermined Sajeeb Wazed Joy and asked, “Who is he?” When an audience raised the issue mentioning the name of Joy, he asked, “Who is Joy Bhai?’ The audience answered that it was the PM’s information technology adviser Sajib Wajed Joy, the minister again asked, “Who is he?”The same audience when again said Joy has a plan regarding internet connections, the minister replied, “Anyone can make such plan. You can also make such plan…Who is he [Joy] to make plans for the government? Joy is a computer or information technology scientist. He might have his own plan. But the government is of the people.” “The head of the government is his mother. He is an adviser to his mother. It is all right. But he does not take any decision. Decisions are made by the government and implemented by the ministers. The minister takes all responsibilities and as a current minister, I, Abdul Latif Siddique, will take the responsibility for all successes or failures. Joy has nothing to do with it.'”Why you all often drag Joy into different issues?” he questioned to the audience.