Resignation of 4 Technocrats : They still join cabinet meet

All four technocrat ministers, who had resigned a week ago as per instructions from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, joined the cabinet meeting yesterday.

Religious Affairs Minister Matiur Rahman, Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Nurul Islam, Science and Technology Minister Yeafesh Osman and Telecommunications and IT Minister Mustafa Jabbar had submitted their resignation letters to the Cabinet Division on November 6.

However, no gazette notification was issued in this regard last week and they were instructed to carry out duties until their resignations were accepted.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Md Shafiul Alam yesterday said the four ministers were present as no circular was issued regarding their resignations.

Citing a constitutional provision, he said a minister's resignation would not become effective without a gazette notification. “As no gazette notification has been issued yet, it will be considered that they are holding the cabinet posts.”

Responding to a question, Shafiul said the polls-time government has started working after the announcement of the parliamentary election schedule.

The Election Commission had announced the polls schedule on November 8. Yesterday, it revised the schedule setting December 30 as the voting day.

The cabinet also approved in principle the draft of the Bangladesh Tariff Commission (amendment) Bill, 2018 although Roads Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, also the ruling Awami League general secretary, on several occasions had said the election-time government would not take any policy-making decision.

Asked whether the cabinet of a polls-time government can give the go-ahead to amending a law, the cabinet secretary said there was no legal bar in this regard. He said it might be termed a routine work of the cabinet as it didn't involve any development work.

Replying to another question, Shafiul said, “The incumbent government is a regular government. The polls-time government is a name given by us. The constitution doesn't mention anything about this.”

The Hasina-led cabinet is comprised of 34 ministers, 17 state ministers and two deputy ministers. Besides, the PM's seven advisers and one special envoy enjoy a minister's status.