Posts and Telecommunications Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui, who is now facing harsh criticism over his comments on Hajj, has said, he is firm in his comments.Latif told BBC Bangla that he is not at all thinking to withdraw his recent comments on Hajj.
However, he said that he would only withdraw his comments if his party leader Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina orders him to do so, BBC Bangla reported.
In an interview with BBC Bangla from Mexico, Latif said he made comments on hajj as a free and modern human being.
He also asserted that question does not arise at all to resign from the cabinet under pressure from any quarter.
"I will not do anything else. I will only follow the order of the prime minister," he said.
Latif said he is well aware of the remarks and demands by the leaders of different political parties over his remarks.
"I didn't talk to the prime minister or any other leaders of my party in this regard so far," he said.
"I just expressed my beliefs. Someone may feel hurt and they are also expressing their opinions attacking me."
When Latif Siddiqui was asked whether he was interested to listen to an audio about his comments at a meeting with Tangail expatriates at New York in the United States, he declined to hear it. "I know what I said and I take the full responsibility of it," he said.
"What was recorded was right. I take 100 per cent responsibility of my comments," he said.
He said: "There is nothing to regret. The Prime Minister gave me some responsibilities in running the state affairs. She will do whatever she thinks right. Why she would keep me [in the cabinet] if she thinks I have become a burden."
Latif Siddiqui said he didn't make comments sitting in Bangladesh.
"I thought I was in a free world where all are free. I was not aware of so many black cats staying here," he said.
ZA