Independent candidate Latif Siddique to continue hunger strike 'until death'

Latif Siddique has announced an ‘indefinite’ hunger strike after the administration did not respond to his demands for "ensuring a fair election environment".

The independent candidate competing for Tangail-4 in the upcoming parliamentary election announced the decision in a letter to the returning officer on Monday afternoon.   

He began a demonstration outside the office of Tangail deputy commissioner, who is working as the district’s returning officer, after allegedly coming under attack while campaigning at Kalihati’s Gohaliabari on Sunday.

Siddique blamed supporters of rival candidate and ruling Awami League MP Hasan Imam Khan Sohel Hazari of attacking his convoy. On Sunday noon, he showed up outside the returning officer’s office with his supporters and several damaged vehicles.

In his letter, Siddique said, "Eighteen hours have passed since I started this hunger strike. But because I didn’t receive any response, I have decided to continue my hunger strike until death.”

"If anything happens to me, the Election Commission will be responsible,” he said.

Siddique demanded that the election authorities remove Kalihati Police Station OC Mir Mosharraf Hossain, arrest miscreants and secure an official assurance from the ruling party candidate that he will commit no more violence until the elections are held.  

The Tangail civil surgeon's office performed a health check on Siddique, a septuagenarian, on Monday.

"Latif Siddique is suffering from high blood pressure and he is not taking his medicines. His blood sugar level is dropping. As a result, he is becoming weak and increasing the health risks,” Civil Surgeon Sharif Hossain Khan told reporters. 

Sohel Hazari was elected MP in a 2015 by-election to Tangail-4, the constituency Latif Siddique had represented in parliament before his expulsion from the cabinet and the ruling Awami League over comments he made about hajj during a meeting in New York.

Siddique was elected a member of the provincial council from the Awami League in the 1970 election. He had contested and won the elections in 1973, 1996 and 2008. He won the Tangail seat uncontested in the 2014 general election.