AL urges EC to cancel Latif Siddique’s seat

Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam on Sunday urged the Election Commission, through a letter, to cancel the parliament membership of suspended presidium member and former minister Abdul Latif Siddique.
Awami League deputy office secretary Mrinal Kanti Das submitted the letter to the chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad.
Emerging out of the commission, Mrinal told reporters he submitted the letter by Ashraful where he urged the commission to cancel the parliament membership of Latif Siddique.
On September 28, 2014, at a views-exchange meeting with expatriates from Tangail in New York, Latif Siddique made disparaging remarks about hajj and Tablig Jamaat.
His remarks triggered widespread criticism both at home and abroad.
Later, he was dropped from the cabinet and expelled from Awami League for his comments.
On July 5, eight months after his expulsion, Awami League’s letter notifying parliament of its step reached speaker Shirin Sharmin Choudhury. The CEC also wrote to her asking whether his seat would be vacated.
The commission then wrote to Syed Ashraful and Latif Siddique about their stance on the matter in line with the law on resolution of disputes involving lawmakers.
In response to that letters, both Syed Ashraful and Latif Siddique submitted their statements with the commission.
In his letter, Latif Siddique said Awami League central committee does not have the right to cancel membership in the party.
‘My speech in New York on 28 September 2014 was a speech as a people’s representative. There is no scope of assuming it to be a speech of an Awami League leader. So, decisions that have been taken on the basis of a wrong premise should be legally considered wrong,’ he added.
He also said that a false allegation of hurting religious sentiments was brought against him. ‘Even if it is assumed that I gave the speech against religion, Awami League central committee does not have the right to cancel my membership in the party,’ added the former jute and textiles minister.
Siddique’s letter also said the matter of dispute resolution is not applicable to him, as according to Article 66 (4) of the Constitution, the Election Commission is empowered to decide on the matter after hearing.
About the matter, EC’s secretary Sirazul Islam told New Age that the commission will take steps on Siddique after reviewing the letters.
‘If it is possible, the Chief Election Commissioner would solve the matter after reviewing the letters. Otherwise, the commission will host a hearing for both parties within 15 days,’ he added.

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