Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Abdul Latif Siddique has been removed from cabinet on Sunday.

At a press briefing, cabinet secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said this while talking to reporters following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s meeting with President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban.

He also read out a gazette notification issued to this end.

As per the notification, the President ordered the removal of the minister from the cabinet according to Article 58 (1) (C) of the
constitution.

At a views-exchange meeting with expatriates from Tangail in New York on September 28 Latif Siddique made disparaging remarks about hajj, one of the main pillars of Islam, and Tablig Jamaat.

On September 28, Latif Siddique at a view-exchange meeting with expatriates from Tangail in New York made disparaging remarks about Hajj, Tablig Jamaat and the Prime Minister's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.

"I am dead against Hajj and Tablighi Jamaat. Two million people have gone to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj," Siddique said.

"Hajj is a waste of manpower. Those who perform Hajj do not have any productivity. They deduct from the economy, spend a lot of money abroad."

Speaking about the history of hajj, he said Prophet Muhammad was worried about the people of Arab as they were robbers. The prophet then made an arrangement that his followers meet at a place every year, which will generate income.

About Tabligh Jamaat he said around two million people who gathered "don't do any work except halting traffic movement throughout the country.

At a press conference on October 3, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Latif Siddiqui will be removed from the cabinet, and the AL central working committee will take a decision on his fate.

Following the widespread criticism both at home and abroad, the government decided to remove Minister Abdul Latif Siddique from the cabinet.

NS