DHAKA: Ruling Awami League Joint Secretary General Mahbubul Alam Hanif on Wednesday said Abdul Latif Siddique, the minister of post, telecommunications and information technology, has been dropped from the cabinet.

“Abdul Latif Siddique has been dropped from cabinet for his remarks on hajj,” he said.

The spokesperson for the party came up with the made the disclosure while talking to journalists at AL President Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi residence in the afternoon.

He said, “The Global ICT Excellence Award in Mexico was received by him. State Minister for Information and Technology Affairs Junaid Ahmed Palak received the award and this is the proof that the order has already been implemented.”

“Awami League always respects all the religions. What he did was ignominious,” he added.

On September 28 (Sunday), Latif Siddique demeaned Hajj in his speech while addressing a programme organized by Tangail Samity at a New York hotel in USA.

He opined that “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.

Pointing to Tablig Jamaat, he said Tablig Jamaat create huge traffic congestion in the name of Ijtima.

His derogatory comments sparked controversy in home and abroad.

According to media reports, the government on Tuesday took decision to drop him from the cabinet.

Meanwhile, at least seven cases were filed against him, two of which filed in the capital while three in Chittagong and one each in Sylhet and Barisal.

BDST: 2150 HRS, OCT 01, 2014