The decision to relieve Syed Ashraful Islam of the duties of the LGRD Ministry and making him a minister without portfolio was made to engage Ashraf more in party activities, Awami League insiders have said.
Political analysts, however, have opined that yesterday’s move has proved to be embarrassing for the government and shown that the cabinet was not cohesive.
A senior Awami League leader told the Dhaka Tribune that Syed Ashraf held a one-on-one meeting with Sheikh Hasina at her office yesterday, shortly before the announcement was made regarding his removal.
On condition of anonymity, the leader said the decision came following that meeting, adding: “Ashraf was reassigned to give more time to strengthen the party.”
Hours after his removal, Ashraf – the incumbent general secretary of the Awami League – attended an iftar party hosted by Jubo League at Bangabandhu Avenue.
He was seen smiling throughout the event and appeared to be in a relaxed mood. When approached by reporters, he however refused to comment on the latest developments.
Political commentator’s views
Ataur Rahman, a political scientist, said ministers of a democratic country are usually removed for three different reasons: performance, policy differences, or scandals.
“But I do not think that Syed Ashraf was removed for performance, because there are some other ministers who have performed worse than Ashraf. The other point is that Ashraf does not have any scandal or corruption allegation. So this point is also void. The third point is of policy differences. I think there is a policy difference between the prime minister and Ashraf,” he said.
Ataur added that the move was embarrassing for the government and had projected the lack of cohesiveness in the cabinet.
“To my understanding, a crack is surfacing within the Awami League because of policy differences, and gradually this will be more clear and Ashraf will be ousted from the party.”
Afsan Chowdhury, a political commentator, said as there was no strong political opposition in the country, intra-party feud of the ruling party would come to the surface.
“The government’s embarrassment will increase, but that does not mean that the government will change,” he added.
Context of Ashraf’s removal
Syed Ashraful Islam’s removal from the LGRD minister’s post came after repeated rumours over the years that he might be relieved of his portfolio for regularly remaining absent at office.
As recent as this Tuesday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her anger when her party’s general secretary skipped the day’s meeting of the Executive Committee of National Economic Council.
Party sources said an important project proposal was placed at the Ecnec meeting but neither the LGRD minister nor the state minister was present. Seeing this, Finance Minister AMA Muhith proposed postponing discussion on the topic as a huge amount of money was involved.
According to sources, Ashraf was at his official residence in Bailey Road when the Ecnec meeting was going on at the council auditorium Tuesday morning. After the meeting, the premier called Ashraf to the parliament, where she had a one-on-one meeting with him.
Hasina then reportedly asked Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed to take charge of the LGRD Ministry, but he refused and instead proposed the name of Khandker Mosharraf Hossain.
