Bangladesh News

Mokhlesur Rahman Chowdhury, politically appointed press secretary to President Iajuddin Ahmed, is now functioning as the press secretary to the chief adviser as well although there are allegations of ‘objectionable actions’ against him.

Mokhlesur attends all the meetings of the council of the advisers to the caretaker government defying objections of the advisers, sources said.

He was formerly diplomatic correspondent of the Dainik Dinkal, known as the mouthpiece of BNP. The daily is published by BNP’s Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman.

Despite demands from different political parties for Mokhlesur Rahman’s removal from the present post, there is still no move from the president, who is also the chief adviser of the non-party caretaker government.

Mokhlesur also tries to influence the administrative decisions of the advisers to the caretaker government, sources said, adding that the advisers to the caretaker government objected to Mokhlesur Rahman’s attending the council meetings, but the president paid no heed.

The journalists who cover programmes at the president’s office have brought allegations of non-cooperation and failure to perform his duties as the press secretary against Rahman.

Other than Mokhles, the President’s Military Secretary Maj Gen Aminul Karim also attends the meetings of the council of advisers while neither the cabinet secretary nor the principal secretary to the chief adviser attends the meetings although they have important role to play in the decision making process.

Newly appointed principal secretary to the chief adviser has no office at Bangabhaban, from where the president performs his official duties as chief adviser.