Bangladesh President forms non party caretaker govt

Dhaka, Oct 31 (UNI) Bangladesh President and Chief Advisor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed today formed his non-party caretaker government by appointing 10 Advisors.

He administered oath to the advisors -- chosen from the lists of nominees submitted by major political parties -- in a simple ceremony at Bangabhaban (President House) at 2235 hrs.

The advisors are Justice Fazlul Huq, former Army Chief Lt General (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, former Cabinet Secretary Dr Akbar Ali Khan, former Foreign Secretary CM Shafi Sami, ex-Inspector General of Police Azizul Haq, ex-secretary DK Nath, Daily Independent Editor Mahbubul Alam, Scholastica chairperson Yasmin Morshed, Advocate Sultana Kamal and Prof Sufia Rahman.

The swearing-in of the council of advisers, who will run government ministries in the interim period ahead of national elections in January, 2007 put an end to a two-day vacuum in the administration since the tenure of the BNP-led coalition government ended on October 29.

President Professor Iajuddin Ahmed took oath as Chief Advisor of the caretaker government on October 29, as the political parties failed to choose a consensus candidate from among the constitutionally designated persons.

UNI XC BDP HS2258