AL chief approves show-cause notice against Latif
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today approved a show-cause notice asking Abdul Latif Siddique to explain why he would not be expelled from the party permanently.
“Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam today signed the show-cause letter which would be sent to the permanent address of Latif,” AL Deputy Office Secretary Mrinal Kanti Das told The Daily Star this evening.
A meeting of the AL Central Working Committee yesterday relieved him from the party presidium and suspended his primary membership of the party.
The notice says as one of the oldest traditional parties in the South East Asia, AL cannot shoulder the responsibility of his derogatory comments that hurt religious sentiment of the Muslims in Bangladesh and other countries.
“Your statements go against the party policy and principles. So, explain in seven working days why you won’t be expelled from the party permanently for acting against the party charter,” the notice adds.
WHAT THE 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 at Tk 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."
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