Seven Awami League lawmakers of Chittagong yesterday strongly criticised party leader ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury for his remarks about another party lawmaker MA Latif following allegations that Latif has distorted the photo of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

In a statement, they described Mohiuddin's remarks as "irresponsible" and "distasteful" and said making such comments was unbecoming of a "civilised" man.

AL lawmaker Latif faced criticism after he put up festoons and banners in the port city last month with a photo, in which Bangabandhu's head was superimposed on the body of Latif. He denied he did that, while the designer concerned said later that the mistake was his, not Latif's.

Mohiuddin, also a former mayor of Chittagong, vehemently criticised Latif for the distortion and said in a public rally on Monday, "...if some aggrieved youth attacks Latif and if he (Latif) dies as a result, then I would consent to be an accused of ordering that."

The joint statement says, "No mentally stable person could make such irresponsible comments."

The allegation against Latif is also false, it added.

Latif is a two-time elected lawmaker, and Mohiuddin should have taken the issue to the party forum, the seven MPs said, adding that his conduct was an infringement of  party discipline and political decency.

The seven lawmakers are Afsarul Ameen (Chittagong-10), ABM Fajle Karim Chowdhury (Chittagong-6), Shamsul Haque Chowdhury (Chittagong-12), Nazrul Islam Chowdhury (Chittagong-14), Mustafizur Rahman Chowdhury (Chittagong-16), Didarul Alam (Chittagong-4), and Mahfuzur Rahman (Chittagong-3).

In his reaction, Mohiuddin said the lawmakers who gave the statement against him "should have given a statement against Latif" for his "great misdeed".

Dismissing their suggestion that he should have raised the allegation in the party forum, Mohiuddin said, "Who are they to dictate me? I stand by what I said in front of the public."