The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Resignation of four advisers from the caretaker government was termed as "unfortunate" by their fellow colleagues yesterday.

Agriculture Adviser Dr CS Karim termed the resignation of four advisers as "unfortunate."

"We worked all together as a team for one year and took decisions unitedly. Our objective was to implement the roadmap. That is why it is an unfortunate incident for us," he said while giving his reactions to reporters at his secretariat office yesterday.Dr Karim, however, said despite the resignation of four advisers work would go on as usual. "Our responsibility is to hand over power to the elected representatives according to the roadmap announced by the Election Commission," he said.

Four Advisers--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 from the Advisory Council Tuesday afternoon.

After their resignation, the heart of the administration-Bangladesh Secretariat-came to a standstill yesterday. A sort of stagnation prevailed in the normal activities of the secretariat throughout the day yesterday. Virtually no activities were seen in the offices of the resigning advisers.

Visiting the secretariat yesterday morning it was found that other advisers of the government did not reach their respective offices till 10:45am. LGRD and Cooperatives Adviser Anwarul Iqbal entered the secretariat at about 10:50am. Reporters surrounded him right at the elevator. He was looking very pale and exhausted. He, however, did not make any comment when his reaction was sought about the resignation of four advisers.

Later, Anwarul Iqbal said though the normal activities of the caretaker government would somewhat be interrupted by the resignation of four advisers, it would not be stopped at all.

He said the resignation of four advisers would have no impact on the general elections ahead.

At about 11:30am, Communications Adviser Maj Gen (Retd) MA Matin arrived at his office inside the Secretariat. He also declined to make any comment to the questions of reporters.

However, the issue of the resignation of four advisers was the talking point at the secretariat. They also tried to know the reasons behind the resignations of the four Advisers. But, the reasons could not be known.

Officials and employees also discussed about the persons who were going to be new advisers.

Meanwhile, the nameplates of four resigning advisers were removed from in front of their offices yesterday afternoon. The nameplate of Food and Energy Adviser Tapan Chowdhury was brought down from in front of his office first. In the same way, the nameplates of other advisers-- Health and Family Welfare Adviser Major General (Retd) Dr ASM Matiur Rahman and Industry Adviser Geeteara Safiya Chowdhury-were removed and white papers were put in those places.

The nameplate of Law and Information Adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein was removed at about 1:15pm from in front of his office at the Ministry of Law.