Latif Siddique to quit as MP

SC scraps Latif�s appeal challenging EC hearing over his membership status

Former post and telecommunications minister Latif Siddique has said he would resign his Parliament membership rather than continuing his legal battle over the issue with the Election Commission (EC).
 His comment comes shortly after the Appellate Division upheld a High Court order and scrapped Siddique’s appeal challenging the Election Commission decision to hold the hearing about the cancellation of the parliament membership.
Latif was sacked as a minister and expelled from the ruling Awami League last October for alleged derogatory comments against Hajj, Tablighi Jamaat, and Prime Minister’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy at a New York programme.
Latif appeared for a hearing over the cancellation of his membership of Parliament at the EC yesterday. He told the EC that he would send his resignation letter to Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury.
“My leader (Sheikh Hasina) doesn't want that I should do anything excess about the matter of my Parliament membership. People’s love and the leader’s trust and allegiance are more valuable to me,” he told reporters after a 15-minute hearing.
“I've told the EC to postpone the hearing as I don’t want to carry on the legal battle. I would submit my resignation letter to the Speaker,” he said.
Claiming he is a real Muslim, Latif said, “I don’t have a bit weakness about my faith in Allah. Whatever has been said against me is a lie. I can think how valuable the Parliament membership is to others, but allegiance to the leader is more important to me. I’ve come to know that I should not continue the futile struggle for Parliament membership.”

“I don’t want to fight for the membership of Parliament. I want the country’s welfare. Let the ideology of Bangabandhu be established under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, and let the rule of law and justice be established,” he added.
Wishing a long life to the Prime Minister, Latif said, “Let militancy, communalism and the politics of killing be eradicated from Bangladesh. Long live Sheikh Hasina. Joy Bangla.”
Meanwhile, election commissioner Md Shah Nawaz said Latif had filed a time petition with the EC during the hearing, saying that he would his submit resignation to the concerned person through legal way.
“We had a hearing at 11 am today. The MP informed us that he needed some time to resolve the issue over his resignation. He submitted a written time petition and asked for time verbally. We’ve received the letter and adjourned the hearing till September 6,” he also said.
“He has to resign to the person concerned in a legal manner. If any information comes from the person concerned, we’ll take a decision in this regard on September 6,” he added.
At the hearing, Abdus Sobhan Golap, office secretary of the Awami League, and ABM Reazul Kabir Kawsar, assistant secretary of a party sub-committee, were present on behalf of the party.
Meanwhile, a four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, rejected Latif’s writ petition. Latif had challenged the EC’s jurisdiction to carry out a hearing on the legitimacy of his membership of Parliament.
There is now no legal bar for the EC to hold a hearing on the dispute over the cancellation of the parliament membership of sacked minister Abdul Latif Siddique following the apex court order, a lawyer involved in the proceedings said.
On August 20, an HC bench of Justices Md Emdadul Haque and Md Khurshid Alam Sarkar had rejected Latif’s writ petition, seeking a court directive against the EC hearing.
Latif had filed the petition in the HC on August 16. The plea challenged the EC’s August 9 notice which fixed August 23 for hearing the dispute over his parliament membership.
Latif was sacked as the posts and telecommunication minister on October 12 last year for his “derogatory” comments. The Awami League then cancelled his party membership on October 24.
Latif surrendered to police last November and spent several months in jail after he was accused of “hurting religious sentiments” in a number of cases. He was released in June this year after the HC granted him bail.
On July 5, the Awami League’s letter notifying Parliament of Latif’s ouster from the party reached Speaker Shirin Sharmin Choudhury. After that, the EC was asked to decide on his parliament membership. Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua appeared for Latif, while attorney general Mahbubey Alam represented the state.

Latif Siddique to quit as MP

SC scraps Latif�s appeal challenging EC hearing over his membership status

Former post and telecommunications minister Latif Siddique has said he would resign his Parliament membership rather than continuing his legal battle over the issue with the Election Commission (EC). His comment comes shortly after the Appellate Division upheld a High Court order and scrapped Siddiques appeal challenging the Election Commission decision to hold the hearing about the cancellation of the parliament membership. Latif was sacked as a minister and expelled from the ruling Awami League last October for alleged derogatory comments against Hajj, Tablighi Jamaat, and Prime Ministers son Sajeeb Wazed Joy at a New York programme. Latif appeared for a hearing over the cancellation of his membership of Parliament at the EC yesterday. He told the EC that he would send his resignation letter to Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury. My leader (Sheikh Hasina) doesnt want that I should do anything excess about the matter of my Parliament membership. Peoples love and the leaders trust and allegiance are more valuable to me, he told reporters after a 15-minute hearing. Ive told the EC to postpone the hearing as I dont want to carry on the legal battle. I would submit my resignation letter to the Speaker, he said. Claiming he is a real Muslim, Latif said, I dont have a bit weakness about my faith in Allah. Whatever has been said against me is a lie. I can think how valuable the Parliament membership is to others, but allegiance to the leader is more important to me. Ive come to know that I should not continue the futile struggle for Parliament membership. I dont want to fight for the membership of Parliament. I want the countrys welfare. Let the ideology of Bangabandhu be established under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, and let the rule of law and justice be established, he added. Wishing a long life to the Prime Minister, Latif said, Let militancy, communalism and the politics of killing be eradicated from Bangladesh. Long live Sheikh Hasina. Joy Bangla. Meanwhile, election commissioner Md Shah Nawaz said Latif had filed a time petition with the EC during the hearing, saying that he would his submit resignation to the concerned person through legal way. We had a hearing at 11 am today. The MP informed us that he needed some time to resolve the issue over his resignation. He submitted a written time petition and asked for time verbally. Weve received the letter and adjourned the hearing till September 6, he also said. He has to resign to the person concerned in a legal manner. If any information comes from the person concerned, well take a decision in this regard on September 6, he added. At the hearing, Abdus Sobhan Golap, office secretary of the Awami League, and ABM Reazul Kabir Kawsar, assistant secretary of a party sub-committee, were present on behalf of the party. Meanwhile, a four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, rejected Latifs writ petition. Latif had challenged the ECs jurisdiction to carry out a hearing on the legitimacy of his membership of Parliament. There is now no legal bar for the EC to hold a hearing on the dispute over the cancellation of the parliament membership of sacked minister Abdul Latif Siddique following the apex court order, a lawyer involved in the proceedings said. On August 20, an HC bench of Justices Md Emdadul Haque and Md Khurshid Alam Sarkar had rejected Latifs writ petition, seeking a court directive against the EC hearing. Latif had filed the petition in the HC on August 16. The plea challenged the ECs August 9 notice which fixed August 23 for hearing the dispute over his parliament membership. Latif was sacked as the posts and telecommunication minister on October 12 last year for his derogatory comments. The Awami League then cancelled his party membership on October 24. Latif surrendered to police last November and spent several months in jail after he was accused of hurting religious sentiments in a number of cases. He was released in June this year after the HC granted him bail. On July 5, the Awami Leagues letter notifying Parliament of Latifs ouster from the party reached Speaker Shirin Sharmin Choudhury. After that, the EC was asked to decide on his parliament membership. Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua appeared for Latif, while attorney general Mahbubey Alam represented the state.