Hanif loses PM aide post

The Prime Minister has fired Awami League’s Joint General Secretary Mahbub-Ul Alam Hanif as her Special Assistant.

The Ministry of Public Administration in an order on Sunday evening relieved Hanif of his duties at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Ministry officials said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave the directive to dismiss him, nearly five years after he was appointed to that post.

It means the politician from Kushtia will wield no power having lost the PMO job barely three months before the incumbent Awami League government finishes its term.

Earlier in the evening, Senior Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration Abdus Sobhan Sikdar told bdnews24.com Hanif was going to be fired.

"I am supposed to receive a file regarding that. But I haven't got it yet. It'll take some time more," Sikdar had said.

Ruling party leaders said the Prime Minister took the decision to maintain unity in the 14-Party alliance.

Alliance member Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal's (JaSaD) President Hasanul Haq Inu is also an MP from Kushtia-2 constituency, which was Hanif's constituency earlier. Inu is Information Minister in the Hasina Cabinet.

Kushita's local leaders hinted that Hanif wanted to run from that constituency – comprised of Bheramara and Mirpur Upazilas – in the parliamentary election.

Awami League President Hasina on Oct 9 was displeased when the issue was raised in a meeting on nomination of candidates with the grassroots leaders of Kushita.

Party's central leaders had expressed frustration when Hanif had an argument with Hasina in that meeting, said several media reports.

A report published in a national daily on Oct 12 claimed the Prime Minister during the meeting had advised her Special Assistant to resign and visit an electoral area to find out the public opinion there.

The report mentioned that the Hasina was angry with Hanif over selection of the ruling alliance candidate for Kushtia-2 constituency.

Kushtia-1 MP Afaz Uddin Ahmed denied comment on the matter but had said, “If the leader of the party takes a decision it means she has considered all aspects.”

Kushtia Awami League Senior Vice-president and Municipality Mayor Anwar Ali said, “The leader (Sheikh Hasina) has taken the right decision, even though it is delayed.”

Hanif had earlier dismissed media report about him being asked to resign as “nothing but a mere rumour”.

But after the ministry issued the circular on Sunday, Hanif told bdnews24.com that he had requested Hasina to take him off.

"Many have told me that the post of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister is a beneficial post. But I don't know whether it is really beneficial. The election is nearing, that's why I requested the Prime Minister to relieve me of that post."

File Photo

Hanif had reportedly dissolved committees of different Kushtia Awami League units after he got the PMO job and became Joint General Secretary, causing discontent among local leaders.

It was also alleged that he had put leaders he favoured on the new committees.

Hasina had met the grassroots leaders on Oct 9 for nominating candidates in the district. She reportedly was iffed that Hanif dissolved Doulatpur Awami League committee and formed a convenor committee.

Doulatpur Awami League unit President Afaz Uddin Ahmed at the meeting said he was not notified and the committee was dissolved without the permission from party central committee.

Mirpur Awami League unit General Secretary Qamrul Arefin had proposed nominating Hanif from Kushtia-2 seat.

But Hasina was quoted by a leader preferring anonymity as saying that JaSaD President Inu was the Grand Alliance candidate for the constituency and he should be chosen to run again for unity in the coalition.

Then the Prime Minister expressed displeasure over Hanif's activities, according to that leader.

"Many get popular by working at the Prime Minister's Office. They show off power. Resign and go to your area. Then I'll see how popular you are. And then you'll understand how it feels to practice politics," she was further qioted as telling Hanif.

Hasina also said Hanif would not able to run election while being a Special Assistant to the Prime Minister according to the Representation of People Order (RPO).

Hanif at the meeting responded to that saying the RPO did not apply in his case and that he could contest polls.

According to that leader, at this point of argument between Hasina and her Special Assistant, Awami League Deputy Office Secretary Mrinal Kanti Das said, "Honourable Prime Minister, it is uncalled for that the person you made the party's Joint General Secretary will argue with you."

A month after that meeting, former Kushtia district Awami League unit Vice-President Hanif lost his post PMO job.

Resignation report a rumour: Hanif