Latif will pay the price, not govt: Hasina

Terming the comments made by Latif Siddique on Hajj and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) inconsiderate, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said it was Latif Siddique who would pay the price, not her government.

“It is not the government or the country, but Latif Siddique is in trouble for his inconsiderate remarks, which hurt the people’s religious sentiment,” Hasina said during a question-answer session after briefing media about the outcomes of her recent visit to New York where she attended the 69th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Sheikh Hasina briefed the media at her official residence Gono Bhaban in Dhaka around 5:00pm.

“I will not keep him in the cabinet. A file on his removal will be placed in the cabinet and then before the president to implement my government’s decision,” the premier said.

When asked about her government’s stance over Latif Siddique, she said it is unacceptable if anyone makes such inconsiderate remarks.
None can accept attacks on people’s religious sentiment. Steps will be taken in accordance with the offence, she added.        
About Latif’s termination from the party, she said Awami League working committee meeting will take the decision whether Siddique will remain in the party post or not.

“I believe no member of my party’s working committee will oppose the decision,” she added.

Latif Siddique, the minister for posts and telecommunications and ICT, is also a member of the AL Presidium, the highest policy-making body of the party.
Responding to another query, Hasina said lives of all peoples are always under a risk.

“Man is mortal and so I don’t care about my life. You (people) would not get democracy if I didn’t take risks,” she answered.

The premier went to New York on September 22 and addressed the UNGA on September 27.
The press conference takes place at her official residence Gono Bhaban in Dhaka around 4:30pm.

When asked about the outcome of the talk with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, she said nothing about dialogue with the country’s rest political parties took place during the meeting.

Describing BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, its incumbent chairperson Khaleda Zia and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad as killers, PM said none can hold talks with killers.

“Despite this, I have made an offer to BNP chairperson to sit for a dialogue only for the sake of national interest,” she added.

“Now, we as well as the country are not facing any political setbacks. So we cannot hold talks with those who ensured jobs to the assassinators of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members,” she said.

When asked about BNP’s threat to enforce movement after Eid-ul-Azha, she said BNP’s movement means killing of people.

“We have been hearing their threat to wage a tough movement. They kill people in the name of movement. People are no longer with their movement,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina also called upon the countrymen to resist their movement with collective efforts.

A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the premier landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 10:40am on Thursday after her 10-day trip to the USA.

On the sidelines of the UNGA, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held meetings with UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Norwegian premier Erna Solberg, Belarus Prime Minister Mikhal V. Myasnikovich and Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala.

Sheikh Hasina also attended a reception accorded by expatriate Bangladeshis.