Latif Siddiqui 'quits' race

Abdul Latif Siddiqui, independent candidate in Tangail-4, has quit the race.

He met Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda yesterday noon and submitted a letter.

"I am not contesting the election. Ideal environment, scope of free participation and peaceful situation do not exist at any of the places in my electoral area," he said in the letter addressed to the CEC.

Before leaving the EC secretariat, he distributed copies of the letter addressed to the CEC among reporters.

"It's regrettable that under your leadership and direction, the playing field has become so level that I was repeatedly trampled by police...," the letter reads.

He mentioned that four of his vehicles were vandalised by drug traders, drug addicts and sand lifters using police clout.

In protest, he went to the Returning Officer's office and went on a hunger strike.

"But I didn't get any remedy even after going on strike for 96 hours."

"In this context, I am not interested to be in the field."

The deadline for officially withdrawing candidacy was December 9.

After Latif went on a hunger strike in Tangail, he was admitted to the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

He was discharged from the hospital on Thursday.