All but four of the 30 ministers and state ministers of the past Grand Alliance government have not left their government houses in time even after being dropped from the election-time government.
As per the Remuneration and Privileges Act, ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers can live in their government houses for a month after they resign their posts.
Relevant ministries and directorates are not asking the ministers and state ministers to leave their houses as they are VVIPs.
Sixteen ministers and 14 state ministers were dropped from the election-time cabinet on Nov 21. Of them, all but former Industries Minister Dilip Barua are from the Awami League.
Among the ministers axed are Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Dipu Moni, Suranjit Sengupta, Shafique Ahmed, Dilip Barua, Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju, Shahara Khatun, Rezaul Karim Hira, Abul Kalam Azad, Enamul Hoque Mustofa, Faruk Khan, Abdur Razzaque, Afsarul Amin, AFM Ruhal Haq, Abdul Latif Biswas and Mostafa Faruque Mohammed.
Among the state ministers are Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Mostafizur Rahman Fizar, AB Tajul Islam, Yafes Osman, Ahad Ali Sarker, Md Shahjahan Miah, Abdul Mannan Khan, Mohammad Motahar Hossain, Mohammad Enamul Haq, Mojibur Rahman Fakir, Omar Faruk Chowdhury, Md Mahbubur Rahman, Md Abdul Hai and Meher Afroze Chumki.
All 30 ministers had handed in their resignation letters to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Nov 11 as per her proposal to form the election-time government.
As per law, they were to leave their houses within a month after their resignation on Nov 21.
Of the ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers who resigned, only one or two have left their government houses, said Md Ashraful Islam, Director of Directorate of Government Accommodation, speaking to bdnews24.com.
“The remaining ones have not left their houses. They even have not notified (us) whether they will leave their houses,” he said.
Former Primary and Mass Education Minister Afsarul Amin and Fisheries and Livestock Resources Minister Abdul Latif Biswas left their houses as per law, an official at the Ministry of Housing and Public Works said.
So did former State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Motahar Hossain and State Minister for Land Mostafizur Rahman Fizar, he added.
Whether the ministers and state ministers will be reminded of their obligation to leave their houses, Ashraful said, “The VVIPs cannot be given any reminder nor will they be sent any.”
When it was pointed out to him that they were flouting rules, he said “The can stay at government houses as many days as they want to, but they will be fined for extra days.”
One can be fined 50 percent of the house rent, said Ashraful.
Approached, Housing and Public Works Secretary Dr Khondaker Showkat Hossain said: “Some (ministers and state ministers) have left their houses and some others are doing so or in the process of doing so.”
He, however, could not say how many ministers had left until Dec 22.
Asked whether any reminder would be served, he said, “I don’t think it will be needed.”
Source: bdnews24
