Published : 27 Oct 2013, 06:42 PM
Updated : 09 Aug 2022, 11:15 AM
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
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Resignation report a rumour: Hanif
