The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Five new Advisers of the caretaker government were sworn in at Bangabhaban yesterday evening. The new Advisers inducted into the Council of Advisers are former

Secretary AMM Shawkat Ali, former Attorney-General AF Hassan Ariff, former Director General of the National Security Intelligence (NSI) Maj Gen (Retd) Ghulam Quader, Executive Director of NGO Gano Swakkharata Rasheda K Chowdhury and economist Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman.

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed administered the oath of office to the Advisers at the Credential Hall of Bangabhaban at 6:40 pm.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and members of Advisory Council were present at the swearing-in ceremony. Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumder conducted the ceremony.

"Portfolios will be allocated to the new Advisers at a special meeting of the Advisory Council on Thursday morning," an official said.

Four advisers of the caretaker government resigned Tuesday afternoon from the Advisory Council. Those who resigned were 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.

Earlier, Education Adviser Dr Ayub Quadri resigned in the wake of

Paris-bound artefact scandal on December 26.

Sources said the top level of the caretaker government took initiatives to appoint new advisers after the resignation of four advisers Tuesday afternoon. The cabinet division contacted a large number of eminent personalities and sought their consent to become the advisers. However, most of them declined to be appointed as advisers expressing their "personal inconveniences." Subsequently, the names of five advisers were finalized yesterday afternoon. They will attend a special meeting of the Advisory Council at the Chief Adviser's office this morning where portfolios will be allocated among them. Later, they will attend their offices at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

The new advisers have already been given special cars from the government's transport pool and security personnel. Besides, police were deployed at their respective residences in the city last night.

The incumbent caretaker government assumed office on January 12 last year 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.