Nothing else to assume in my transfer from telecoms to information: Tarana

Joining her new office, State Minister Tarana Halim says not too much should be read into her transfer from the telecoms to the information ministry.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 7 Jan 2018, 02:40 PM
Updated : 7 Jan 2018, 02:41 PM

She spoke to the media after taking charge as the state minister for information on Sunday, five days after the announcement of the cabinet reshuffle.  

She spoke for around 16 minutes about the successes achieved by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications during her tenure there, but did not take any question on the ministry.

She said she thought Sheikh Hasina put trust in her and that was why the prime minister transferred her from one ‘challenging’ ministry to another.

“I don’t think someone has the scope of assuming something else here. You can work everywhere if you want to do so,” Tarana said.  

Tarana lost posts and telecoms ministry when Hasina shuffled her cabinet after three new ministers and a state minister were sworn in last Tuesday, with a year left for the current government.

When the actress-turned-cultural activist was made state minister for posts and telecoms two and a half years ago, the ministry did not have a minister.

Now she is playing second fiddle to seasoned politician Minister Hasanul Haq Inu.

Speculations about Tarana’s absence at her new ministry were rife as the others already started work in their new offices.

“I won't say why there is no state minister for telecoms now,” Mustafa Jabbar, the newly appointed posts, telecommunications and IT minister, told the media on Jan 3.

“It is beyond me that the Telecommunications Division has had serious problems and there had been no initiatives to resolve them,” he added.

When Tarana arrived in her new office on Sunday, the information ministry officials and employees received her with flower. She later called on Minister Inu who also greeted her with flower.  

Speaking to journalists about the achievements of the posts and telecoms ministry, Tarana responded to media reports that she was upset about the transfer. 

“People in the media publish news in different ways,” she said.

Asked about a particular report by an online media outlet, the state minister said, “You will find out what I had said if you read the full report. You know what storyline can make a report attractive.

“My comment was on the launch of the satellite (Bangabandhu Satellite-1). The question was how I would feel about not being there during the launch and my answer was natural,” Tarana said. 

“When Khaleda Zia closed the community clinics set up by the honourable prime minister, if you asked her about her feelings, she would answer in the same way,” Tarana said.

“We’ve come to work for ‘boat’ (the ruling Awami League’s election symbol), and we will do it,” she added.

About Tarana, Information Minister Inu said, “I know and I am proud that she has tackled the challenges in the telecoms ministry skilfully. Together, we will be able to do the information ministry jobs more efficiently.”