Most of the 14-party ministers and state ministers who are not in the polls-time cabinet are still enjoying government accommodation facility even after their tenure is over.
As per the Ministers and State Ministers Privileges Act ministers and state ministers are not entitled to housing facility one month into their resignation or dismissal.
The resignation papers of the outgoing minister were accepted on November 20.
Only five ministers and state ministers handed over their official residences until yesterday to the Department of Public Accommodation (DPA).
The ministers who are yet to hand over their official residences are Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju, Shahara Khatun, Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir, Rezaul Karim Hira, Abul Kalam Azad, Enamul Hoque Mustafa Shaheed, Muhammad Faruk Khan, AFM Ruhal Haque, Dipu Moni and Mostafa Faruque Mohammed.
The state ministers who are still enjoying the government accommodation facility are AB Tajul Islam, Yeafesh Osman, Ahad Ali Sarkar, Md Shahjahan Miah, Abdul Mannan Khan, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Muhammad Enamul Huq, Mozibur Rahman Fakir, Mahabubur Rahaman Talukdar, Omor Faruk Chowdhury, Md Abdul Hyee and Meher Afroze Chumki.
However, the DPA authorities are not planning to serve them any notice to quit the houses.
Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, in accordance of his wish, has recently been allocated an official residence in the Hare Road by the DPA. None of the other ministers of the polls-time government, however, expressed their willingness to get a residence.
Public Works Secretary Dr Khondakar Showkat Hossain said: “Some ministers and state ministers have already handed over their houses. Some others are leaving and the rest are taking preparation to leave the houses. We hope they will leave their houses shortly.”
When asked whether the ministry has any plan to serve a notice in this regard, the secretary said: “I think it would not be necessary to serve notices. They will leave willingly.”
Dr Ashraful Islam, director of the DPA under the housing and public works ministry, said: “Only a few ministers and state ministers have handed over their official residences to the DPA.”
“We will wait until they intend to hand those over themselves. We hope they will do it shortly,” he added.
“If they do not leave within the expected time they will have to pay for overstay.”
According to the DPA, former ministers Afsarul Amin, Abdur Razzaque and Abdul Latif Bishwas and former state ministers Mostafizur Rahman and Motaher Hossain have already left their houses.
