Abu Sinha Monjur Morshed, Dhaka, Jan 9 : The military backed caretaker administration of Bangladesh appointed five new advisers Wednesday evening after holding a low-key ceremony at the Presidential Palace Bangabhaban.

President Iajuddin Ahmed sworned in former BIDS senior research fellow Hossain Zillur Rahman, retired major general Golam Quader, former secretary AMM Shawkat Ali, former attorney general AF Hassan Ariff and former ADAB president Rasheda K Chowdhury into office at 6:30pm.

In wide contrast to previous such ceremonies, foreign diplomats, military chiefs and major political leaders were not invited to attend this ceremony.

The ceremony started with recitations from the Quran by Moulana Abdul Halim at 6:23pm and was over in 10 minutes.  Cabinet secretary Ali Imam Majumder listed the names of the new advisers and Iajuddin swore them into office. 

The programme ended in a matter of 10 minutes, followed by a tea party. 

Majumder had earlier told journalists that the programme would take place in a low-key fashion. The chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force were not invited to the ceremony, he said. "Diplomats and former advisers were not invited either," he said.

A special meeting of the council of advisers will be held Thursday to distribute portfolios among the new advisers.

Speaking to journalists by telephone earlier in the day, Ariff and Rasheda pledged to do their best to help the caretaker government to hold a free, fair election within the scheduled timeframe. 

"This is a big responsibility. I need everyone's cooperation," Ariff said.  He said the government would transfer power to an elected government, which is its main responsibility.  "We have to think about a legal framework for this," he said. 

Ariff worked under the four-party coalition government as attorney general since Oct 14, 2001 before he resigned on April 26, 2005. 

The main aim of Rasheda as an adviser to the caretaker government would be to present the nation a free, fair voting. She said she would be "very sincere" in properly discharging the responsibilities as an adviser.  "The main aim of the present caretaker government is to present the nation with a free, fair and neutral election. As an adviser my aim will be the same too.  "Besides I will try my level best to perform the responsibility which the chief adviser reposes on me." 

The chief executive of the Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE), Rasheda said her appointment as an adviser was confirmed by the high level of government Tuesday night. 

On Wednesday she went to her CAMPE office at Humayun Road in Mohammadpur as usual. After doing office work there for some time she returned to her Banani home.

Shawkat Ali said: "I need cooperation from all to do my job."

Hossain Zillur Rahman said: "We have taken up the tasks in critical times. But we can succeed if we work together.""Reforms are going on at the national level. Prices are rising on the international market."  "The main dimension of work was thought to be political, but now it seems it is economy-oriented," he said. "We will try to work together. Let's see what happens," he said.

In his reaction, Golam Quader said: "We need your cooperation. The economy is a big challenge."

It is to be noted that the new advisers were appointed after law adviser Mainul Hosein, health adviser ASM Matiur Rahman, power and food adviser Tapan Chowdhury and industry adviser Geeteara Safiya Choudhury were forced to leave the Fakhruddin administration on Tuesday under the guise of self-resignation.

The leaders of the country's leading business groups Wednesday said the caretakers should have brought about the changes in the government at least six months ago.

 

@ The Bangladesh Journal

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