Latif Siddique resigning from Parliament

Expelled Awami League leader and former minister Abdul Latif Siddique says he will resign from Parliament. “I will resign voluntarily. That’s my decision. There is no need to hold a hearing on it,” he told a hearing at the Election Commission (EC) over his Parliament membership. The former member of the Awami League's policymaking Presidium had moved the court challenging the EC’s move, but his petition was scrapped by the High Court and the Appellate Division also turned it down on Sunday. Siddique and his lawyer went to the EC after the appeals court’s hearing. Awami League’s Office Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap and Assistant Secretary Riazul Kabir Kawsar attended the hearing on behalf of General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam. The hearing started around 11 am in presence of the chief election commissioner, the four commissioners, EC secretary and it’s legal wing secretary. It lasted only for 15 minutes as Siddique said that he will be stepping down. Before leaving EC premises, he told reporters that the sudden move to not press on with legal proceedings was to respect the 'will' of Awami League chief Shiekh Hasina.  “I came to know, though a little late…that my leader does not want me to go any further on this matter.” The former telecoms minister said that even after his expulsion, he is still ‘loyal’ to ‘the leader’. “Since I am a loyal person, I told the commission to adjourn the hearing and that I will hand in my resignation to the Speaker.” Meanwhile, the Election Commission says that the next steps will be taken in keeping with the regulations, according to bdnews24.com.
-Shuvo-