Latif should apologise publicly: Kader Siddique
Latif should apologise publicly: Kader Siddique
Post and Telecommunications Minister Abdul Latif Siddique should apologise before Allah and people of the country for his derogatory comments about Hajj and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), his brother Abdul Kader Siddique said today.
“The nation is shocked by Latif’s speech, which hurt the nation’s ‘Imaan’,” Kader, also the younger brother of the minister and chief of Krishak Shramik Janata League, said during a press conference at Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka this morning.
“Minister Latif Siddique is nobody to me, but the person Latif Siddique is my brother,” the noted freedom fighter added emotionally.
WHAT THE MINISTER SAID
On September 28, at a 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.
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."