Public administration minister Syed Ashraful Islam, who has just been replaced by Obaidul Quader as the ruling Awami League’s general secretary, is likely to leave for London next Friday.
If the prime minister grants his leave he applied for, Syed Ashraf will be staying in the UK capital for two weeks, his aides confirmed to Prothom Alo.
“His family is in London, and his wife is sick now. So, he is going to London for family affairs,” said the minister’s assistant private secretary M Sajjad Hossain.
Syed Ashraf, served the AL as its general secretary since 2007.
Syed Ashraf was made acting secretary general of the party in 2007. Awami League elected him general secretary in 2009. The election of Obaidul Quader, road transport and bridges minister, as the AL general secretary, ended the era of Syed Ashraf.
At the just-concluded AL’s 20th council session, Syed Ashraf proposed the name of Quader as the party’s next general secertary.
Syed Ashraful Islam has now been made the AL’s presidium member.
He was earlier stripped off the cabinet portfolio of local government, rural development and cooperatives ministry in 2015. He was then given the charge of public administration ministry.
Source: Prothom Alo
