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| Post subject: Four advisers quit Iajuddin cabinet |
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Dhaka, Dec 11 (bdnews24.com) - Four disgruntled advisers deserted President Iajuddin Ahmed's cabinet Monday, further shaking political and business nerves.
The abrupt decision came from Akbar Ali Khan, Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, CM Shafi Sami and Sultana Kamal at around 11 am, less than two days after Iajuddin in a unilateral decision deployed the army to keep order.
bdnews24.com got the confirmation of the resignations from all the four advisers by 2pm.
Word of the resignation reached the bdnews24.com newsroom shortly before 11am—first from its senior correspondent Ahmed Dipu stationed at the Secretariat.
The advisers Sunday spoke openly against the decision of troops callout and threatened "a tough decision" unless the ongoing political standoff was resolved.
Sultana told reporters after an informal meeting with her three colleagues that they would take a concrete decision by Monday.
Speaking from his Gulshan home, Khan said that, he wanted to meet the President at 11:00am to hand in his resignation.
Although he had initially been given an appointment, he said it was later cancelled, and that was the reason he could not hand in his resignation letter to the President.
A disappointed Khan said: "When the President has no time for four advisers, how can we stay?"
However, he said he had sent copies of his resignation to the Bangabhaban and the cabinet division.
Adviser Shafi Sami told bdnews24.com that he sent his resignation to the presidential palace.
Asked why he resigned, Sami said: "I said on previous occasions that if I could not play a proper role for a free and fair election, I would resign, and that's why I have done so."
Hasan Mashhud told bdnews24.com senior correspondent Ehsanul Haque Babu by telephone: "It was not possible for me to help improve the situation. The situation has further been clouded by the troop callout. So I have decided to step down."
Sultana said that she had resigned 'protesting the President's decision to call out the army in aid of the civil administration'.
She said that the present situation was not congenial for a free and fair election.
"Deployment of the army means that we, in the civil administration, have failed to perform our duties," she told reporters at her Ain O Salish Kendra, a human-rights organisation office.
"Why should I take responsibility for the failure by holding office further?" she said.
She said army should not have been called out if it had "not been an utmost necessity".
"I felt that I could not contribute to a free and fair election. We have not been able to create an election-friendly atmosphere in which people can exercise their right of franchise freely," she said.
The human rights activists said that she had sent her resignation letter to the Bangabhaban through her assistant personal secretary Monday morning.
She alleged being refused an appointment with the President at 11.00am Monday. The President's office had timed the appointment for 1pm, but she did not turn up because of her 'busy schedule', she said.
"Some person will replace me. I don't see any crisis in my replacement," she said.
AWAMI LEAGUE REACTS
Awami League President Sheikh Hasina said hopes for her party and allies to join the elections are fading, as the polling would not be neutral under President Iajuddin Ahmed.
Awami League leaders said the resignation of four advisers from the interim authority further clouded prospects for a free and fair election, bdnews.24.com correspondents Sumon Mahmud and Rafiq Zaman reported.
"The resignation of four advisers proves that a free and neutral election is impossible under president Iajuddin Ahmed," AL presidium member Tofail Ahmed said.
In instant reactions, Tofail told bdnews24.com that the AL and allies had continuously said Iajuddin was politically biased.
"Being the chief of the caretaker government, he is taking the election toward uncertainty."
Another presidium member, Suranjit Sengupta, demanded the president resign too.
"He (Iajuddin) is the main obstacle to a solution to the political problem. The situation is now more complicated. How can we take part in elections?" Suranjit said.
On the deployment of army, Suranjit said the president did not explain in his televised speech why he deployed army.
"The president has no longer constitutional right to appoint new advisers. He had already appointed ten. How could he appoint new advisers now in line with the constitution?"
Awami League presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim said the political situation in the country was now more complex.
SITTING ADVISERS SPEAK OUT
Caretaker adviser M Azizul Haque said the resignation of the four advisers will spark off a temporary crisis, but the interim government still has time to overcome the hurdle.
"It (resignation) will create a temporary hurdle, but still we have time to overcome," Haque said in an instant reaction.
"The resignation is their own decision, but it's not a threat to democracy".
The former police chief also said the political parties are still eager to take part in the elections slated for January 23.
Asked whether a free and fair election is possible in current circumstances, Haque said, "Time will say everything. We are trying our best."
Fellow adviser Sufia Rahman said she believes holding the next elections is still possible.
"I see no problem," Sufia told bdnews24.com when asked whether she thinks the advisers' exit will obstruct the voting.
Cabinet spokesman Mahbubul Alam said he does not know why four advisers stepped down.
"Can I say why they have resigned?" Alam told reporters when asked for comment.
"We will call you to let you know our formal reaction, if necessary," Alam said.
ACTING CEC SEES NO PROBLEM
Acting chief election commissioner Mahfuzur Rahman Monday said the election must be held on schedule despite the resignation of four advisers, bdnews24.com senior correspondent Biplob Rahman reported.
Rahman told reporters at the Election Commission Secretariat: "The election will be held on schedule."
Advisers Akbar Ali Khan, Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, CM Shafi Sami and Sultana Kamal deserted President Iajuddin Ahmed's cabinet after he made a unilateral decision calling out the army to "maintain law and order".
"We have no problem with the voter list correction. But people are not cooperating with us, nor are they providing information," Rahman said.
"If anybody remains out of the list, he should come forward and let us know."
"We have stepped up efforts to correct the voter list and hope we will be able to get a correct list in seven days."
On the probable leave of election commissioners SM Zakaria and Mudabbir Hossain Chowdhury, he declined to comment.
STOCKS SKID ON ADVISER NEWS
Stocks plummeted Monday after investors found buying sprits ebbing on reports of resignation of four advisers from President Iajuddin Ahmed's cabinet, bdnews24.com correspondent Sohel Parvez reported.
The DGEN or DSE general index dipped 19.00 points or 1.19 percent until 12 pm, opening with 1593.95.
The DSI or all shares price index shed 17.32 points or 1.31 percent from 1317.86.
Turnover touched Tk 253.16 million from transactions of 22,29,346 shares.
Of the issues traded, 26 gained, 95 lost and 14 remained unchanged.
BUSINESSMEN FEAR FALLOUT
Top businessmen feared the advisers' exit from the cabinet would deepen the crisis, bdnews24.com senior correspondent Sajjadur Rahman reported.
"No doubt, the situation has become complicated with the advisers' resignation," FBCCI President Mir Nasir Hossain told bdnews24.com in an instant reaction.
"President can sit with the advisers and ask them to withdraw resignations for the sake of democracy," Hossain said.
AK Azad, president of Bangladesh Chamber of Industries, doubted a credible election is possible in the current situation.
"The president is becoming controversial by the day," Azad said.
He said participation of all political parties is important to make the elections acceptable.
BGMEA President SM Fazlul Hoque was concerned about business.
"The advisers should talk to the president for the sake of economy," Hoque said.
Source: bdnews24.com
http://www.bdnews24.com/details.php?cid=2&id=52583#tp52583
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