They will enjoy spl security until polls
Five out of seven advisers to the prime minister, who were appointed with the status of ministers five years ago, on Tuesday stepped down.
Public administration affairs adviser HT Imam, energy adviser Tawfiq-E-Elahi Chowdhury, economic affairs adviser Mashiur Rahman, health and family welfare and social welfare affairs adviser Syed Modasser Ali and education and political affairs adviser Alauddin Ahmed resigned amid growing criticism over the number of the PM’s advisers in the poll-time government. All of them submitted their resignation letters to the prime minister. But the cabinet division is yet to issue any gazette notification.
International Affairs Adviser Gowher Rizvi and Security Adviser Major Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, who also took office in January 2009, have not resigned.
In the poll-time government, four advisers with ministerial status have so far been appointed. They are Jatiya Party leader Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, Chairman of another faction of Jatiya Party Anwar Hossain Manju, former law minister Shafique Ahmed and former industries minister Dilip Barua.
Talking to this correspondent, Syed Modasser Ali said they have resigned for smooth functioning of the poll-time interim government. Ali also said the prime minister has assured the five former advisers of providing them with police security until the completion of the upcoming general elections. At the same time, the special passes, issued from the Special Security Force (SSF) against them, will remain valid until the election is complete, he added.
-With The Independent input
