20 bungalows to be prepared in Dhaka for new interim cabinet

There may be 15 advisers in this interim government, the army chief says

As many as 20 bungalows at Bailey Road, Minto Road and Hare Road in Dhaka are being prepared for the members of the interim cabinet.

Md Shohidul Islam Bhuiyan, director of the Directorate of Government Accommodation, told bdnews24.com on Thursday, “The housing for the new members of the government is ready. We don't know how many people will live in the buildings. We are also waiting for a list.”

“However, the directorate has been asked to make arrangements for 20. We are doing the work accordingly.”

The area of Bailey Road, Minto Road and Hare Road in the capital is called Montripara, or ‘neighbourhood for ministers’. Twenty bungalows have been prepared in the area, Shohidul said.

The chairs, tables, and furniture of the bungalows are being redecorated. The chief engineer of the Public Works Department, or PWD, is coordinating the work. The trimming of trees around the boundary wall of the bungalows is going on in full swing. Ministers have been living in these buildings for a long time.

The State Guest House Jamuna is being prepared for Muhammad Yunus, who is set to take the oath of office as head of the interim government.

The director of the directorate said, “The State Guest House Jamuna has been allocated for the chief advisor of the interim government by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Protocol Wing. The preparations at the building started yesterday [Aug 7].”

Prior to this, Justice Habibur Rahman, chief advisor to the caretaker government in 1996 and Latifur Rahman, chief advisor to the caretaker government in 2001, spent their terms at the State Guest House Jamuna.

Fakhruddin Ahmed, chief advisor to the army-backed caretaker government, also stayed at the residence after they took power during the 1/11 changeover in 2008.

There has been no government in the country for four days since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, which had been in power for over 15 years, in the face of a mass movement led by students.

Although a caretaker government system is no longer part of the constitution, initiatives have been taken to form an interim government ahead of fresh elections. The army is also supporting it.

The protesting students proposed the name of Nobel laureate economist Muhammad Yunus as the head of this interim government. President Mohammed Shahabuddin agreed to it.

Army chief Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman said on Sunday that there may be 15 advisers in this interim government. They will take their oaths of office at the Bangabhaban on Thursday at 8pm.