The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

A state of tranquility tinged with an emotional atmosphere pervaded the premises of CA's office as Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed made his exit Tuesday on completion of his national assignment.

Noticing the CA Office staff members, including some journalists, standing around prior to his departure, Fakhruddin got down from his car and shook hand with them with a smiling face and wished them all well.

The officials of the CA's office lined up in front of the entrance to bid farewell to the head of the two-year-old caretaker government that would go down history as a unique interim regime for its sweeping reform recipe that created a topsy-turvy in the national polity.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin, accompanied by his wife Neena Ahmed, drove out of the office premises in a motorcade at 2:30pm after the emotional farewell.

Yesterday was the last day in office for the CA, who helmed the statecraft against the backdrop of 1/11 changeover, as an elected government headed by Awami League president Sheikh Hasina was to take oath in the evening.

He had attended first-day office on January 13, 2007, the day after taking oath as Chief Adviser under state of emergency amid a crucial political disorder over stalled parliamentary elections slated for January 22, 2007.

Today (Tuesday), the CA arrived at office at around 9:30am. Last day' s official activities included courtesy call by Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda accompanied by the two other election commissioners and the Secretary of the Election Commission and another courtesy call by Army Chief Gen Moeen U Ahmed.

A delegation of the executive committee of the association of ex-students of SM Hall of Dhaka University led by former Adviser and IGP SM Shahjahan also made a courtesy call on the Chief Adviser. Fakhruddin was a student from SM Hall.

CA's wife Neena Ahmed, who came to CA's office yesterday, went around the office. The CA also went on a walkabout on the office premises when cameramen took snaps apparently to keep the memories ever alive.

Few days back, the CA had formal farewell meeting with officials and employees of the CA's office.

After the December 29 parliamentary elections, the CA had basically no major programmes except for call by some foreign election-observer teams on him and a farewell meeting of the council of advisers.

On Monday, the CA made farewell call on President Prof Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban.

Talking to reporters at the President's House after the meeting, Dr Fakhruddin had said he would remain in Dhaka and pass his time writing after handing over power.

He further said he is ready to extend cooperation to the new government, if required.

The CA's responsibility was to be over following the administering of oath to the new cabinet by the President at Bangabhaban at 6:30pm on Tuesday.