Latif Siddique bids farewell to elections

Awami League Presidium Member Abdul Latif Siddique has announced his retirement from elections but said he will continue to be active in party matters as directed by Sheikh Hasina.

“I will not take part in elections under parliamentary democracy. However, will try to act as per the directives from Sheikh Hasina,” he said at Parliament on Tuesday.

Though he did not cite any reason for his decision, he lamented that “there is no respect now for others’ opinions”.

The 70-year old MP from Tangail-4 constituency, Kalihati, is also the Minister for Textile and Jute in the present government. This is his fourth term as an MP.

Siddique has been Sheikh Hasina’s unwavering supporter, standing firmly by her even while many turned ‘reformists’ when Hasina was imprisoned by the last caretaker government.

In his Tuesday speech, the veteran politician admitted to having opposed the decision of making Sheikh Hasina (then living abroad) party chief of Awami League in the ‘80s.

“I wrote a 42-page letter to her (Hasina) from Delhi. I had written that I do not support you (Hasina) as chief. But, later I accepted you as party chief.”

Latif Siddique has been involved with the Awami League for a long time. His younger brother, Abdul Quader Siddique, was also with the party for a while before launching a new party – Krishak-Sramik-Janata League.

Latif Siddique was jailed during military rule. His wife Laila Siddique was a Jatiya Party MP during the rule of the party’s chief Hussein Muhammad Ershad.