Four Advisors of Bangladesh Government resigns

Dhaka, Dec 11 (UNI) In a significant political development, four prominent advisors of Bangladesh's interim caretaker government resigned today following difference of opinion on election issues with President Iajuddin Ahmed.

Finance Advisor Dr Akbar Ali Khan, Energy Advisor and ex-Army Chief Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, Agriculture Advisr CM Shafi Sami and Industry Advisor Sultana Kamal have sent their resignation letters to Bangabhaban, the official residence of the President.

The President who is also the chief advisor had allegedly ignored these advisors while taking various decisions concerning the country's general elections slated for January 23 2007.

They had opposed the last Sunday's deployment of armed forces in the capital, saying the deployment of forces in the name of assisting the civil administration was not necessary.

Interestingly, the resignations of the advisors came for the first time in the history of Bangladesh government after the system of caretaker government was incorporated in the Constitution in 1996.

While talking to UNI former Agriculture Advisor Shafi Sami said ''I have resigned since I could not make any contribution to create an appropriate atmosphere for free and fair elections.'' Sami, who also served as the country's Foreign Secretary said after the seetting up of the caretaker government on October 29, the steps which were needed to create a congenial atmosphere for elections were not taken, adding ''Our recommendations were not implemented.'' In reply to a querry, the former Agriculture Advisor said they had taken various initiatives to create a level playing field for holding a credible election, but all those initiatives were rejected.

He, however, did not agree that deployment of the army has any link with his resignation.

UNI XC SSC DS1407