The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Four Advisers of the caretaker government resigned yesterday in a dramatic development in the interim administration of the country.

Law and Information Adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein, Energy Adviser Tapan Chowdhury, Health and Family Welfare Adviser Major General (Retd) Dr ASM Matiur Rahman and Industry Adviser Geeteara Safiya Chowdhury resigned in the afternoon. The resignations came on the eve of completion of one year in office of the caretaker government headed by Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed.

Sources said after attending a function of Police Week at Rajarbagh, the Advisers went to the Chief Adviser's office at Tejgaon. Later, they tendered their resignations addressing the President on personal grounds. The resignation letters were sent to President Prof Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban through special messengers in the afternoon. Sending the resignation letter to the President in Bangabhaban, Barrister Mainul Hosein, also the Housing and Public Works and Land Adviser, went back to his residence at Baridhara in the afternoon.

In his instant reaction, Barrister Mainul Hosein said, "Whether I remain in or outside the caretaker government, my mission for carrying out the great objective of establishing democracy in the country will continue."

When asked about his resignation, Health Adviser Maj Gen (Retd) Matiur Rahman said: "Please, no comment. What you have seen on television screen is true."

He said he had performed his responsibility and he would do it if entrusted in future.

Food and Energy Adviser Tapan Chowdhury could not be contacted for comments despite repeated attempts over phone.

Earlier, Industries Adviser Geeteara Safiya Chowdhury said, "Time is short. We have been working through many rules and regulations. If somebody does not want me I will have to go. I have nothing to do in this regard."

With the resignation of four Advisers yesterday, a total of five Advisers have resigned from the 11-member Council of Advisers so far.

Earlier, Education Adviser Dr Ayub Quadri resigned on December 26 in the wake of missing of Paris-bound artifacts at Zia International Airport.

The latest resignations came on the eve of Fakhruddin Ahmed's military-backed government's completion of one year in office since it was installed amid a political crisis over general election in January last year.

The incumbent caretaker government assumed office on January 12 under the state of emergency imposed a day before to quell political unrest over the abortive parliamentary elections.

It succeeded a short-lived caretaker government headed by President Prof Iajuddin Ahmed, which was formed as two rival political camps had failed to make a consensus choice for the office of Chief Adviser as per constitutional provision.

Chief Adviser's press secretary Syed Fahim Munaim told journalists yesterday that four Advisers resigned on 'personal' grounds and the resignation letters were sent to the President office in the afternoon.

New Advisers are likely to be sworn in by the President at Bangabhaban at sometime today (Wednesday), he said.