Members of the Awami League's Central Committee on Saturday suggested to remove Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith from the Cabinet. However, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the party chief, has reportedly defended Muhith.
Three central committee members, including two organising secretaries, who preferred not to be named, confirmed bdnews24.com correspondent Sumon Mahbub the issue.
When contacted, they separately told bdnews24.com that the Awami League General Secretary and also the LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam had indirectly proposed removing Muhith from the Cabinet. They said that Ashraf raised the issue saying Muhith made comments which put Awami League leaders in 'embarrassing situations'.
"This is due to his age," the Awami League General Secretary was quoted by the sources to have told the meeting.
They said almost all the members of the central committee agreed with Ashraf.
Defending the beleaguered Finance Minister, the sources quoted Hasina to have replied, "He (Muhith) does not want to leave us. Rather, he wants to work with us."
On many occasions the Finance Minister was criticised by senior members of the treasury bench in the Parliament for the share market debacle.
Recently, Muhith had come under fire from front bench MPs of the ruling party for his remarks over the Hallmark scam involving the state-run Sonali Bank. He was also advised by Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, cousin of the PM, and Tofail Ahmed to 'speak less'.
In the face of criticism from senior treasury bench MPs, Muhith regretted his remarks that the loan given to the Hallmark Group by Sonali Bank was 'nothing' and retracted it during his speech in Parliament on Sep 6.
On Saturday, at the Central Executive Committee meeting the LGRD Minister also reportedly proposed sending PM's Finance Advisor and party's advisory council member Mashiur Rahman on leave for three months to bring back the World Bank to Padma bridge project.
When Hasina reportedly asked whether the World Bank, which cancelled its promised loan of $1.2 billion for the $2.9 billion Padma bridge project, would come back if Mashiur sent to leave, Ashraf had replied in the positive.
Before suspending the fund in September 2011, the Washington-based lender had written to the government with the suggestion of removing government officials, including Mashiur as reported in the media, involved in the project raising graft allegations.
Rahman's, also the Integrity Adviser to the Padma Bridge project, resignation came into discussion after the former Communication Minister Syed Abul Hossain resigned recently. The government also sent Bridges Division Secretary Mosharraf Hossain on leave afterwards.
The sources said Ashraf on Saturday's meeting also came down hard on Tofail Ahmed for turning down the cabinet berth saying his decision was a 'black chapter' for the party.
"He would be praised for this for the time being. But he has neglected his duties and insulted his voters," the sources quoted Ashraf as saying.
Communications Minister Obaidul Quader, who was stripped of his railways portfolio, and Shahara Khatun, who was removed from the Home Ministry and given the charge of Post and Telecommunication Ministry, did not attend Saturday's meeting.
Meanwhile, Awami League's Deputy Office Secretary Mrinal Kanti Das told bdnews24.com that the meeting decided to hold the party's central conference between December 2012 and January 2013.
The district and upazila committees have been asked to hold their conferences by November.
The meeting also discussed to extend the central committee's tenure until Jan 31, 2013, he added.
Three central committee members, including two organising secretaries, who preferred not to be named, confirmed bdnews24.com correspondent Sumon Mahbub the issue.
When contacted, they separately told bdnews24.com that the Awami League General Secretary and also the LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam had indirectly proposed removing Muhith from the Cabinet. They said that Ashraf raised the issue saying Muhith made comments which put Awami League leaders in 'embarrassing situations'.
"This is due to his age," the Awami League General Secretary was quoted by the sources to have told the meeting.
They said almost all the members of the central committee agreed with Ashraf.
Defending the beleaguered Finance Minister, the sources quoted Hasina to have replied, "He (Muhith) does not want to leave us. Rather, he wants to work with us."
On many occasions the Finance Minister was criticised by senior members of the treasury bench in the Parliament for the share market debacle.
Recently, Muhith had come under fire from front bench MPs of the ruling party for his remarks over the Hallmark scam involving the state-run Sonali Bank. He was also advised by Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, cousin of the PM, and Tofail Ahmed to 'speak less'.
In the face of criticism from senior treasury bench MPs, Muhith regretted his remarks that the loan given to the Hallmark Group by Sonali Bank was 'nothing' and retracted it during his speech in Parliament on Sep 6.
On Saturday, at the Central Executive Committee meeting the LGRD Minister also reportedly proposed sending PM's Finance Advisor and party's advisory council member Mashiur Rahman on leave for three months to bring back the World Bank to Padma bridge project.
When Hasina reportedly asked whether the World Bank, which cancelled its promised loan of $1.2 billion for the $2.9 billion Padma bridge project, would come back if Mashiur sent to leave, Ashraf had replied in the positive.
Before suspending the fund in September 2011, the Washington-based lender had written to the government with the suggestion of removing government officials, including Mashiur as reported in the media, involved in the project raising graft allegations.
Rahman's, also the Integrity Adviser to the Padma Bridge project, resignation came into discussion after the former Communication Minister Syed Abul Hossain resigned recently. The government also sent Bridges Division Secretary Mosharraf Hossain on leave afterwards.
The sources said Ashraf on Saturday's meeting also came down hard on Tofail Ahmed for turning down the cabinet berth saying his decision was a 'black chapter' for the party.
"He would be praised for this for the time being. But he has neglected his duties and insulted his voters," the sources quoted Ashraf as saying.
Communications Minister Obaidul Quader, who was stripped of his railways portfolio, and Shahara Khatun, who was removed from the Home Ministry and given the charge of Post and Telecommunication Ministry, did not attend Saturday's meeting.
Meanwhile, Awami League's Deputy Office Secretary Mrinal Kanti Das told bdnews24.com that the meeting decided to hold the party's central conference between December 2012 and January 2013.
The district and upazila committees have been asked to hold their conferences by November.
The meeting also discussed to extend the central committee's tenure until Jan 31, 2013, he added.
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