Khandkar Mosharraf Hossain met Syed Ashraful Islam before succeeding him as the new minister for Local Government and Rural Development today.

-          Mosharraf meets Ashraf at 11:15am

-          15 minute meeting

-          Ashraf assures cooperation

Starting today, Mosharraf will be handling this portfolio parallel to being the minister of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment ministry.

Meanwhile, Syed Ashraf, who was recently stripped from his ministerial position and made minister without a portfolio assured Mosharraf full cooperation on his behalf this morning.

Khandkar Mosharraf called at Syed Ashraf's Bailey Road residence around 11:15am and talked for 15 minutes, an aide to Ashraf, who was present during the meeting, told The Daily Star.

Afterwards, Mosharraf went to Bangladesh Secretariat and began office as both ministers around 12:15am.

Syed Ashraf, believed to be a trusted man of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was removed on July 9. Ashraf is yet to speak directly on this matter and neither are any of Awami League leaders.

But yesterday, while attending an iftar programme, Syed Ashraf pulled reference to his father, who was Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's close aide, and asserted that betrayal was not in his blood.

Ashraf is also now the general secretary of ruling Awami League.

'FEELING LUCKY'

After joining the LGRD ministry, Khandker Mosharraf told press that he was "feeling lucky" since he was chosen for the job by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Speaking to reporters at his secretariat office, he said: "Syed Ashraf is the leader of my political party and also its general secretary. I met him today to seek his permission before helming the ministry".

"About 80-82 percent people live in rural areas. The government's vision will never be implemented if the rural areas are not developed. Our government's aim is to turn Bangladesh into a middle-income country by 2021 and a developed country by 2041."