Anisul Huq given charge of defence ministry businesses in JS

Law Minister Anisul Huq was given the charge of the defence ministry-related business in parliamentary affairs.

He replaced Public Administration Minister Syed Ashraful Islam in this, according to handout issued by the Parliament Secretariat.

The change takes effect from today.

The reason behind the change was not mentioned in the handout.

Ashraf was supposed to place two separate bills styled Defence Services (Amendment) Bill 2016 and Defence Services (Supreme Command) Bill 2016 before the House tonight. His name was mentioned in the print copy of the day’s proceedings.

But instead of Ashraf, Huq placed those bills before the House.

Ashraf, also the general secretary of the ruling Awami League, was not present in the House at that time.

Soon after the placement of the bills, the Parliament Secretariat handout was distributed among the journalists.

Ashraf was discharging responsibilities as in-charge of Ministry of Defence in parliamentary affairs since the formation of the 10th parliament in 2014.

The latest move came days after Ashraf was seen feeling uncomfortable while placing a bill. Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and lawmaker Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, who were sitting next to him, helped Ashraf to place the bill that day, April 27.

Ashraf, while serving as LGRD minister last year, was made Public Administration Minister. Engineer Engineer Khandker Mosharraf Hossain was made LGRD minister