I am no longer a minister: Taj

He is on leave, says HT Imam 
Tanjim Ahmed Sohel Taj, absentee minister of state for home affairs yesterday set at rest all speculations about his political career by claiming that he personally handed over his resignation letter to the prime minister on May 31 and therefore was no longer a minister of the government.
Sohel Taj who is now staying with his wife, two daughters and mother-in-law in Maryland state near Washington, told News World news agency yesterday that he had decided to quit as he considered self-esteem more important than a ministerial job and also because he did not want to “embarrass anyone.”
His categorical statement that he was no more in the government runs counter to prime minister’s adviser HT Imam’s assertion that Taj was on leave.
According to a BBC bulletin monitored here, HT Imam said that the prime minister had told Taj to stay on leave as long as necessary to solve his personal problems. He had resigned but his resignation was not accepted.
The adviser further said that the President appoints a minister on the advice of the prime minister. So until the president accepts his resignation, he remains a minister.
Talking to News World news agency in the US capital, Washington,
Sohel Taj said he submitted his resignation letter as per article 58
(a) of the Constitution.
“I’ve personally submitted the resignation letter to the Prime
Minister,” he said, adding that as per convention the resignation
comes into effect automatically after a minister sends his
resignation letter to the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister
informs the President about the resignation.
“After May 31 I am no longer minister. I have the Memo No. of the
receipt of my resignation letter,” he said.
He told the foreign news agency that after submitting the resignation
letter to the Prime Minister, he left for America.
“As per Constitution my resignation has been accepted. It will be
violation of the Constitution to address me as minister,” he said.
Article 58(1) of the Constitution says: ” The office of a Minister other than the prime minister shall become vacant- (a) If he resigns from office by placing his resignation in the hands of the prime minister for submission to the president.
Apparently Sohel Taj has followed the letter and spirit of the Constitution in tendering his resignation. It is on this basis that he has argued that he is no longer a minister. The Constitution does not mention anything about acceptance of a Minister’s resignation.
In reply to a question, Taj said he would return to the country
at his convenience. Since quitting the ministerial job, he has no urgency
to return to the country. It needs taking oath afresh to get back the
job, but there is no opportunity for that, he added.
Taj said that he has not received salary and allowances as a state minister from June 1. Despite the fact, he said, misleading news is being published
against him.
Asked about the reason for resignation, he said it would not be
decent to make comment about that. He said he was committed to the
country, the nation and the Prime Minister.
“Nevertheless, principle, ideal and self-respect are the prime assets
of a person,” Taj, son of the country’s slain first prime
minister, Tajuddin Ahmed told the news world. “I am not the person to continue with my ministerial job by sacrificing all this. It’s not possible for me to give up my self-respect.”
He said it is most important to him to uphold his family tradition
and prestige of being a public representative than holding the post
of minister.
Asked if he had faced any difficulty as a minister of the
six-month-old Awami League government, Sohel Taj said everyone has to
realise the development of the country and a need for change, but he
does not want to put anyone in an embarrassing situation. He hoped
all would work for the betterment of the country according to their
pledges.
In reply to a question, the lawmaker from Gazipur said he took oath as a minister with a cherished dream and commitment to ‘change’ and he cannot express that feeling. He hoped the government would fulfil its commitment made to the nation for a ‘change.’
Asked if he has any sorrow, Sohel Taj observed May 31, the day he
stepped down, was obviously a day of sadness for him. “I wanted to give
something to the nation, but it could not be possible.”
Asked why he attended office at the home ministry after the
resignation, he said he did not go to the secretariat to perform the
minister’s job but went to the office to complete some official
formalities.

Courtesy of The Independent