Cabinet colleagues have a laugh about Menon, Inu

The Cabinet on Monday had lighter moment when the Hajj pilgrimage of two top leftist leaders, Rashed Khan Menon and Hasanul Haq Inu, provoked a bit of laughter.

But no mention was made of the recently removed minister Abdul Latif Siddique who had made snide remarks about the pilgrimage.

A minister attending the meeting told bdnews24.com that, though not on the agenda, Menon and Inu’s pilgrimage was discussed.

Workers Party President and Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Menon, and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSaD) President and Information Minister Inu went on Hajj this year.

They are scheduled to return home from Saudi Arabia on Oct 15.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting.

The minister, wishing not to be named, said: “A minister commented on two Leftist leaders going on Hajj pilgrimage saying ‘they will be addressed Al-Hajj and Comrades simultaneously’. Others found the observation amusing.”

Workers Party and JaSaD are components of the ruling combine.

Inu was made information minister during the Sheikh Hasina-led previous government and is continuing with same portfolio in the incumbent administration.

Menon could not become a minister due to a party decision, but secured a Cabinet berth during the election-time interim government. He has been made the civil aviation and tourism minister in the incumbent government.

A photo of Inu and Menon taken just before they left Dhaka for Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj sparked humorous comments on the social media.

The picture posed on Facebook showed the two leaders sitting in stitchless white special Hajj robes.

One Facebook user, Tanim Ashraf, commented sharing the photo: “The Comrades did not get respite from Hedayet (guide) of Allah.”

One named Mohammad Haq wrote: “Alhajj communism.”

Several days later, Telecommunications and ICT Minister Abdul Latif Siddique’s anti-Hajj remarks in New York sparked raging debates on the social media.

He told a programme on Sept 28 that he was strongly against Hajj, Tabligh and Jamaat-e-Islami.

Amid widespread criticism, Siddique was removed from the Cabinet and Awami League’s policymaking Presidium on Sunday. His membership with the party has also been suspended.

The minister attending the Cabinet meeting said the issue of Siddique was not discussed.