Former minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui has pulled out from the national polls citing no level playing field a week before the voting day of the 11th general election.

Siddiqui, an independent candidate from Tangail-4 constituency, made the announcement on Sunday, after meeting the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda at the Election Commission in Dhaka.

In a letter s1ubmitted to the CEC, Latif Siddique said that he is stepping down from the Dec 30 polls as the atmosphere is gradually worsening across Bangladesh.

 “I have pulled out of the 11th general polls because this election lacks a level playing field,” he told the media.

“To contest in this polls, candidates must get crushed under the police’s boot, and get beaten up by goons,” he said adding that miscreants have demolished hid office in Tangail.

Responding to the query on his decision to pull out from the race, the banished Awami League leader said, “I did not ask the CEC for anything. I just told him that he has been unsuccessful in creating an environment for fair polls.”

Since the deadline of withdrawing candidacy has passed, Siddique decided to pull out from the race, he said.

On Dec 16, a number of vehicles including Siddiqui’s car was vandalized during his campaign in Tangail’s Gohaliabari area.

The next day on Dec 17 he announced to go on a hunger strike, in a letter sent to the district returning officer, until his death if the authorities do not meet his three-point demand including withdrawal of local OC.

On Dec 19, Latif was later shifted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University hospital after his healt deteriorated.