Ahead of the general elections, four technocrat members of the Cabinet have quit on the orders of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who made a similar move before the 2014 polls.
According to people familiar with the matter, with the resignation of technocrat ministers, Hasina sent the message that only elected representatives will remain in the administration ahead of the polls thus ensuring accountability to the people.
However, the move will effectively fend off any proposal by political parties or coalitions to include the opposition in the polls-time administration.
Speculations are rife that the Dr Kamal-Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Front may float a proposal on Wednesday during the talks with the prime minister to form an election-time Cabinet inducting some ministers from the opposition parties.
After the latest reshuffle in the Cabinet in January, there were 30 ministers, 17 state ministers and two deputy ministers in the Hasina-led administration.
Of them, Religious Affairs Minister Matior Rahman, Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Nurul Islam BSc, Science and Technology Minister Yeafesh Osman and Telecoms Minister Mustafa Jabbar were technocrat ministers.
Hasina’s orders came during the weekly Cabinet meeting earlier in the day.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader disclosed the PM’s instruction while speaking to the media Ganobhaban after the Cabinet meeting held at the Ganabhaban.
He, however, said the other ministers will remain there as usual in their respective posts.
Sources said that the prime minister instructed Cabinet members not to use government-entitled privileges after the schedules of the 11th National Election are announced.
“Everyone has to comply with electoral code of conduct. Do not avail government facilities, including vehicles. According to the law, MPs and ministers cannot use them for campaigning,” the sources quoted Hasina saying in the Cabinet meeting.
According to them, the prime minister said that the existing Cabinet will act as the polls-time administration, which will scale down its activities.
A smaller Cabinet was considered ahead of the last polls as the BNP was in parliament then and the government wanted to induct them, Hasina said before adding that no unelected representatives will remain in the polls-time administration this time.