bdnews24.com :Ruling Awami League’s General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam was markedly absent from the first Cabinet meeting after the LGRD and cooperatives portfolio was taken away from him on July 9.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina headed the regular Cabinet meeting at her office on Monday. “Syed Ashraful Islam was not present at the meeting yesterday,” Cabinet Secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said after he faced a barrage of press queries during the official briefing.”But that does not mean he will not attend the meetings in the future,” he clarified. Syed Ashraf, retained as a minister without portfolio, was seen in public at programmes after his removal. His car had the national flag flying, a privilege ministers enjoy. However, the secretary and other officials dodged questions on whether the minister without portfolio was sent a Cabinet folder.Cabinet Division officials said the folder was intended only for ministers in ministries where they are present. State ministers of those ministries are sent folders every three month.Syed Ashraf’s replacement, Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain was present at Monday’s meet. When asked whether more Cabinet changes were in the pipeline, Secretary Bhuiyan was coy, saying the press would be informed “as early as possible”.
