Advisers kept in the dark

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Advisers to the caretaker government (CG) fired a broadside at President and Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday over his apparent retreat from a promise to consult them before the appointment two more election commissioners and announcement of the schedule for next general elections by the Election Commission (EC).

“We were not aware of the announcement of election schedule,” Information Adviser and spokesman for the council of advisers Mahbubul Alam told reporters emerging from a weekly meeting of the council at the CA’s office.

The advisers expressed their utter displeasure at the two decisions at the meeting that saw hurling of heated words at the chief adviser (CA) for keeping them (advisers) in the dark about the two vital decisions, sources said.

The meeting stretched to over four hours with the CA trying to downplay seriousness of the two decisions in the face of a barrage of questions from the advisers.

The advisers later told reporters at the Secretariat that appointment of the two new election commissioners and announcement of election schedule were not discussed at the council meeting.

Meeting sources said the C A insisted on discussing the prices of essentials and agricultural production throughout the meeting, and at no point informed the advisers about the appointment of election commissioners and announcement of election schedule.

At one stage, an adviser asked the CA why other important issues were not being discussed while another wanted to know why they were not informed about polls schedule announcement.

The CA then hesitantly informed the advisers that it is a matter for the Election Commission, meeting sources said.

The advisers asked why Iajuddin appointed two election commissioners of his own accord while he had earlier promised to consult them before deciding on the appointments.

The CA continued to sidestep these questions. At one point, all but one adviser expressed their annoyance, the sources added.

Mahbubul Alam told reporters, “The appointment (of two election commissioners) and the announcement of election schedule were not discussed at the council of advisers meeting.”

He went on, “I was not aware of these two issues till now, I am hearing it for the first time from you (reporters).”

Agriculture Adviser CM Shafi Sami expressed his surprise at the two decisions: “We were not aware how the election schedule was announced or how the two election commissioners were appointed.

“The President has assured us that the two newly appointed election commissioners will not be controversial.”

Industries Adviser Sultana Kamal said she came to know about the decisions at the media briefing.

In reply to a question, she said, ” First we have to consider whether circumventing the council of advisers violates the law, and then we can take a decision.”

Initially avoiding reporters’ queries, Adviser Dhiraj Kumar Nath however said, “We did not have exact knowledge of the two issues.”

But Adivser Yasmeen Murshed admitted that they were aware of the two decisions.

Nevertheless, Dhiraj assured, “We will be able to transfer officials concerned with the EC, including the secretary.” But he cautioned “We will face some complications if we want to transfer deputy commissioners (DCs) and thana nirbahi officers (TNOs).”

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