DHAKA: Abdul Latif Siddique, MP, who was removed from the cabinet and ruling Awami League (AL) presidium committee for his remarks demeaning Hajj, claimed on Sunday that AL made a mistake by expelling him from the party.

Abdul Latif Siddique, who is on the verge of losing his MP post, came up with the claim in a letter that he sent to chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad.

In the eight-page letter, he said the party presidium did not have the authority to remove him from AL even if, for discussion it could be considered that he made demeaning remarks about hajj, which in actuality is just an allegation, on September 29 of 2014 among the Bangladeshi expatriates in New York.

He further said he went there as a delegate but his speech cannot be considered as a speech of a people’s representative. This is why, it was a mistake to oust him from the party as well as the decisions that were taken after, the letter added.

He also claimed the dispute could not be settled following the section 66 (4) of the Constitution.

Latif Siddique also said the allegation would be cancelled in the primary stage as it was not under the authority of CEC.

He further claimed no allegation brought against him falls under the purview of incompetence described in the section 66 (2) of the Constitution or the two reasons, described in section 70, were not applicable to him.

“I did not resign or voted against any decision taken by the party during the parliament session,” he added.

This is why, he requested the CEC to send the letter back to the Speaker of the House for settlement.

On July 13, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury issued a letter, adding the letter by AL general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam to take action, to CEC asking him to take decision about the MP post of Latif Siddique.

The CEC, then, asked them to highlight their stand within August 2.

AL deputy office secretary Mrinal Kanti Das and assistant secretary of sub-committee Rezaul Kabir Kawsar, in favor of Syed Ashraful Islam, submitted the letter to election commission on Tuesday (July 28).

The letter said Latif Siddique lost the right to retain his MP post as he was expelled from the party unanimously as per regulations of the party.

BDST: 2146 HRS, AUG 02, 2015
SR/RR