Ruling Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam today said he does not do politics for personal gain.

“My father did politics with honesty. He was loyal to his leader [Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]. That’s my blood,” the minister without portfolio said while addressing an iftar programme in the capital this evening.

The AL spokesperson made the remarks two days after he was removed from the LGRD ministry. On Thursday, Ashraf made minister without portfolio after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina removed him from the LGRD ministry.

Khandker Mosharraf Hossain has been given the charge of the ministry and as an additional duty; he will continue to serve as the expatriates' welfare and overseas employment minister.

The programme was organised by Kishoreganj’s Hosenpur Upazila Association in Dhaka. Hosenpur is a part of Syed Ashraf’s electoral constituency Kishoreganj-1.

Addressing the programme, Syed Ashraf said, “My father did not betray Bangabandhu; rather died for him. Whether I become a minister or not, do politics or not, I will always stand by the Hosenpur people.”

After his removal, Ashraf is spending most of the times at his official residence on Baily Road and meeting with family members and well-wishers.

Talking with the party leaders today, the AL general secretary said that he will leave Dhaka on July 15 for London to celebrate Eid with his family members and he will return home on August 1.