Reaffirming that a process is underway to remove embattled minister Abdul Latif Siddique from the cabinet as well as her party, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Friday said it is not the government but Latif Siddique is in discomfort for his unacceptable remarks, reports UNB.
Sheikh Hasina said this in response to a query while briefing reporters at her official residence Ganobhaban about her recent US visit to attend the 69th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
Asked whether the government is in discomfort because of Latif Siddique's disparaging remarks against hajj, the Prime Minister noted that it is not the government but Latif is in discomfort, and he will have to pay the price for this.
Hasina reaffirmed that the government will take the necessary steps as she had stated earlier in this regard.
"He (Latif) is in danger for what he has said, not the AL, the government and the country, I can assure you," she added.
Earlier, on her arrival at Osmani International Airport in Sylhet after the US visit on Thursday, she told party leaders that Latif Siddique will be dropped from the cabinet as well as Awami League.
Referring to the rules of business and rules of procedure, the Prime Minister, however, said she cannot give any exact date for implementation of the decision as a process has to be followed in removing a minister.
Mentioning that the President and the Cabinet Secretary are now in
Saudi Arabia to perform hajj, Hasina said she has directed the Cabinet Division to keep the file in this regard ready.
She said Awami League will also have to hold its working committee meeting to remove Latif from the party as Awami League is run by its own constitution.
"We believe in religion. Whatever I've announced (about Latif) will be made effective as per the rules and I'll do whatever I've said," she added.
Hasina told another questioner that there is no reason to make it an issue, as attack on religious sentiment is not acceptable to anyone. "That's why I didn't make any delay in taking my decision."
On September 28, Latif Siddique made disparaging comments on hajj while addressing a reception arranged by Tangail expatriates in New York, triggering criticisms both at home and abroad.
Asked whether she faces any life risk, the Prime Minister said she has been serving the country despite knowing the risk. "I've never cared about my life. Had it been the case, the country would have never regained democracy."
Hasina said she has enough confidence in the country's people and they are her main source of confidence.
About her meeting with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the sidelines of the the 69th UNGA, the Prime Minister told a questioner that Ban Ki-moon did not raise any problem or any political problem regarding Bangladesh.
Asked whether there is any possibility from the government to hold discussions with the BNP, she said, "With whom will we hold talks? Can you hold talks with those whom you know as killers... can anyone in the world do that? But, I had tried earlier and how long I'll…?"
Alleging that the BNP-Jamaat government during their rule had resorted to corruption, killings, grenade attacks, Hasina said, "I think we and the people of Bangladesh are not in such political bankruptcy (to hold discussion) and that's the reality."
Asked about the reported incidents of load-shedding, Hasina said although the country has achieved power generation capacity of over 11,735 MW, the demand is rising day by day.
She said now about 64 per cent of the country's people get electricity and her government would reach electricity to every household.
About a repatriation treaty with India, she said a significant progress has been made in this regard and it is an ongoing process.
Replaying to another question, Hasina said the Liberation War spirit suffered a setback and it started taking a back turn after the assassination of Bangabandhu with most of his family members on August 15, 1975.
Noting that since she would not live forever to help uphold the Liberation War ethos, the AL chief expressed the hope that the new generation who did not have to be the cohorts of Yahia or to suck his feet, would sharpen the Liberation War spirit and take the country ahead.
She also said there are some people who are always busy finding faults and black spots only in Awami League.
Deputy Leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, Food Minister Adv Qumrul Islam, PM's Media Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shariar Alam were present at the podium.
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