Dhaka, Dec 12 (bdnews24.com) – President Iajuddin Ahmed Tuesday handpicked four new advisers for the interim government in another unilateral decision, a day after as many quit the cabinet protesting the same allegation against him.
"The president used his authority and didn't discuss his decision with any political party or caretaker adviser," adviser Dhiraj Kumar Nath told reporters at Bangladesh Secretariat, when he was asked to comment on new recruits.
Iajuddin rushed the new recruitment to fill the vacancies left by the four advisers who walked out on his cabinet Monday.
The new advisers are Professor Mainuddin Khan of Dhaka University, retired Major General Ruhul Alam Chowdhury, Shafiqul Huq Chowdhury, chief executive of ASA, and former secretary Dr Shoeb Ahmed.
Mainuddin, Ruhul Alam and Shafiqul Huq took oath to the caretaker government at about 2:30pm.
Nazrul Islam, a 1965 recruit for the Civil Service of Pakistan who reportedly agreed to become an adviser but failed to turn up for the oath-taking, was replaced by Dr Shoeb Ahmed.
Dr Shoeb served as secretary for agriculture, industries and was managing director at Bangladesh Shilpa Rin Sangstha.
After the swearing-in, Shafiqul Huq said he was hopeful of holding a free and credible election. The fourth took oath later in the day.
Nath, acting as Bangabhaban envoy, failed Monday night to impress upon the four advisers who had quit the cabinet.
Akbar Ali Khan, Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, CM Shafi Sami and Sultana Kamal resigned from the caretaker government after Iajuddin rolled out army to maintain law and order ahead of elections in a unilateral decision.
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