Following an exchange of words over his running in the next
parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has relieved her
Special Assistant Mahbubul Alam Hanif of his duties, Awami League
insiders said.
Even though there was no official notification from the Prime Minister’s Office in this regard, several Awami League sources confirmed Hanif’s removal.
Hanif, also a joint general secretary of the ruling party, said he was oblivious to the matter.
Awami League insiders said Hanif engaged in an unusual exchange of words with party president Hasina at a grassroots meeting on Wednesday. At the meeting, Kushtia’s Mirpur upazila Awami League unit General Secretary Kamarul Arefin appealed to Hasina to nominate Hanif from Kushtia-2 [Mirpur-Bheramara] constituency in the next parliamentary polls.
Hasina told Kamarul that Hanif would not be eligible to contest the parliamentary elections, as per the Representation of the People’s Order (RPO), since he holds a government post and enjoys salaries and other facilities.
Hanif then told Hasina that he had consulted the Election Commission about his running for parliament and the EC told him that since he was the special assistant to the prime minister, he could run.
The prime minister then told Hanif that the EC might have said this as he was the special assistant to the prime minister but it would cancel his nomination ahead of the elections due to restrictions imposed by the RPO.
A seemingly irritated Hasina told Hanif that he gets honour and salutes from people for being the special assistant to her. But, he would have to face harsh reality if he quits the position.
Hanif argued with the prime minister and added that he was ready to quit his post.
Hasina seemed unhappy with this comment.
At this stage, Awami League Deputy Office Secretary Mrinal Kanti Das stood up and said the party’s joint general secretary was arguing with the party chief at a grassroots meeting, which was very unfortunate. Hasina then asked Mrinal to stop talking.
The Daily Star learnt about this exchange of words from several central, district, and upazila leaders of Awami League over the last two days.
At the meeting, around 100 grassroots leaders of eight districts, including Kushtia, were present.
Even though there was no official notification from the Prime Minister’s Office in this regard, several Awami League sources confirmed Hanif’s removal.
Hanif, also a joint general secretary of the ruling party, said he was oblivious to the matter.
Awami League insiders said Hanif engaged in an unusual exchange of words with party president Hasina at a grassroots meeting on Wednesday. At the meeting, Kushtia’s Mirpur upazila Awami League unit General Secretary Kamarul Arefin appealed to Hasina to nominate Hanif from Kushtia-2 [Mirpur-Bheramara] constituency in the next parliamentary polls.
Hasina told Kamarul that Hanif would not be eligible to contest the parliamentary elections, as per the Representation of the People’s Order (RPO), since he holds a government post and enjoys salaries and other facilities.
Hanif then told Hasina that he had consulted the Election Commission about his running for parliament and the EC told him that since he was the special assistant to the prime minister, he could run.
The prime minister then told Hanif that the EC might have said this as he was the special assistant to the prime minister but it would cancel his nomination ahead of the elections due to restrictions imposed by the RPO.
A seemingly irritated Hasina told Hanif that he gets honour and salutes from people for being the special assistant to her. But, he would have to face harsh reality if he quits the position.
Hanif argued with the prime minister and added that he was ready to quit his post.
Hasina seemed unhappy with this comment.
At this stage, Awami League Deputy Office Secretary Mrinal Kanti Das stood up and said the party’s joint general secretary was arguing with the party chief at a grassroots meeting, which was very unfortunate. Hasina then asked Mrinal to stop talking.
The Daily Star learnt about this exchange of words from several central, district, and upazila leaders of Awami League over the last two days.
At the meeting, around 100 grassroots leaders of eight districts, including Kushtia, were present.
No comments:
Post a Comment