Hajj delaying Siddique's expulsion from Cabinet: Matia

In a twist of fate, it is the Hajj that is keeping Minister Abdul Latif Siddique, facing fire for his anti-Hajj tirade, in office.

Sherpur Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 2 Oct 2014, 01:04 PM
Updated : 2 Oct 2014, 02:31 PM

His sacking will need approval of President M Abdul Hamid who is away in Saudi Arabia to perform the pilgrimage.

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury on Thursday said the matter was pending, although the prime minister had ordered his "expulsion".

"He's not a Cabinet member as before," Chowdhury said adding that Sheikh Hasina had promptly decided on Siddique.

Telecoms Minister Siddique said in New York on Sept 28 that he was "firmly averse" to Hajj and Tablig and Jamaat-e-Islami.
His remark drew flak from right, left and centre.
The BNP has sought his prosecution besides his expulsion from the Cabinet, while the Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad demanded maximum penalty.
On Wednesday, Awami League's Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif said Siddique had been 'sacked' from the Cabinet.
A day later, the party announced that he would be expelled from its presidium as well.
Matia Chowdhury said the formality would be completed once the president was back from Hajj.
"He (Siddique) will have to pay for his deeds," the minister said at a programme in Sherpur.
"Neither the government nor the Awami League will take responsibility," she added.