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Four Bangladesh advisers resign

DHAKA: Four advisers of Bangladesh’s military-backed caretaker government on Tuesday resigned resulting in a sharp debate on the state of the interim authority which will complete one year in office on January 12.

The advisers, including outspoken Mainul Husein holding the vital portfolios of Law and Information, reportedly resigned as the government desired, according to some of the advisers.

The others who resigned are: Tapan Chowdhury who held the portfolios of Power and Energy, Major Gen (rtd.) Matiur Rahman Chowdhuiry holding Health and Religious Affairs portfolios and Geeteara Safiya Chowdhury in charge of several Ministries including Industries.

All these advisers took oath following the forced resignation of the first caretaker government led by titular President Iajuddin Ahmed in January 2007 when the state of emergency was imposed, the controversial January 22 election stalled and the military-backed Fakhruddin Ahmed’s second caretaker government assumed office.

Earlier, Education Adviser Ayub Quadri resigned in the wake of the Paris-bound artefact scandal on December 26.

Sources said the four advisers met the head of the caretaker government, Fakhruddin Ahmed, and tendered their resignations.

Mr. Husein, who remained bitter about the politicians and press, launched a veiled attack on politicians on Monday, saying it would be pointless to dream of returning to the “politics of plunder and anarchy” that prevailed before January 11, 2007. “We’re not trying to retain power… We’re trying to salvage democracy from ruination.”

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