Latif Siddiqui’s letter to Mozena ‘personal’ – Dipu Moni

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni yesterday ducked a direct question on whether Jute and Textiles Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui violated diplomatic norms by bypassing her ministry in sending a letter to the US ambassador to Bangladesh. “We had not been informed about the letter before it was sent. We were informed later,” Dipu said at a press briefing at the ministry yesterday. “As far as I have learnt, he wrote the letter in his personal capacity. Comments of the US ambassador had been published in a section of media and the minister conveyed his reaction to the ambassador in the letter,” she said. She said: “He [Latif] did not use the government letterhead. The letter was sent through email.” When again pressed about diplomatic norms, the foreign minister said: “Generally, if any ministry writes to somebody overseas or any embassy, the communication takes place through the foreign ministry. But, he told me that the letter was personal and it was an email communication without the use of any government letterhead.” Meanwhile, at another press conference, US Ambassador Dan W Mozena declined to make any comment on the letter. “First of all, I make no comment on his [Siddiqui’s] comment because he should make comment on his comment. He knows what he was saying, I would not know. You can contact him,” Mozena said when asked about his reaction on the letter. Following Mozena’s comments on introducing trade unions in factories, Abdul Latif Siddiqui emailed Mozena on Monday, asking if the envoy was aware of the diplomatic norms. In the letter, Latif described Mozena’s remarks as “obtrusive, hurting and provocative” for the government of the host country. Latif Siddiqui on Tuesday told the Dhaka Tribune: “We are a nation with dignity. My pride was hurt, and that is why I sent the letter. I will face whatever consequences may follow.”