Eight leaders of the Awami League, Jatiya Party and Workers’ Party were on Monday sworn in as ministers in the election-time all-party interim government.
Members of the Awami League advisory council, Amir Hossain Amu and Tofail Ahmed, president of the Workers’ Party of Bangladesh, Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Party (JP) general secretary Ruhul Amin Howlader, Rowshan Ershad, Anisul Islam Mahmud took oath as ministers, while two JP leaders, Mujibul Haque Chunnu and Salma Islam, were sworn in as state ministers. President Md Abdul Hamid administered the oath in presence of the Prime Minister at Bangabhaban at 3.10 pm.
Another JP leader, Zia Uddin Ahmed Bablu, was made adviser to the PM.
Cabinet Secretary M Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan conducted the oath-taking ceremony. At least 40 guests, including JP chairman HM Ershad, the ministers of finance, LGRD, textile, agriculture, commerce, deputy leader of the House, the PM’s two advisers, HT Iamam and Dr Mashiur Rahman, were present on the occasion.
Bhuiyan said: “Posts of the ministers will be vacant after issuing a circular in this regard by the cabinet division and it would be done after accepting the resignation of the ministers.”
A senior official of the cabinet division said portfolios of the new ministers would be announced on Tuesday. He also added that they would issue a gazette notification of the ministers and state ministers whose resignations would be accepted by the President. After the ceremony, JP Chairman HM Ershad said, “We do not want hartal and a caretaker government because it creates a lot of problems for politicians.”
Tofail Ahmed said the general election must be held by January 24, for which the Election Commission will announce the schedule as soon as possible. “The Jatiya Party will fight the poll on its own. I hope the BNP will also join the election,” he said.
After taking oath, Rashed Khan Menon said holding the election would be a big challenge. “The duty of the all-party government is to hold the poll only,” he said.
Anisul Islam Mahmud said: “Holding the poll is a great challenge. We must resolve the political impasse. We will make all arrangements to create an environment for a fair election and cooperate with the Election Commission.”
On Sunday evening, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had informed the President about forming an all-party interim cabinet.
-With The Independent input
