MM Jasim :The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development & Cooperatives faced an uneasy situation recently when over four hundred files were produced before the new minister Engineer Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain for signing.The files were supposed to be signed by the immediate past minister Syed Ashraful Islam, now the Public Administration Minister.According to official sources, these files-mostly relating to development projects of local government division– were returned from the residence of Syed Ashraful Islam after he was removed from the ministry. Ashraf did not touch the files during his tenure. Requesting not to be named, an official of the ministry told The New Nation on Wednesday that Syed Ashraful Islam was ‘irregular’ in the ministry. So, the officials sent the files to his residence. But he did not sign many files in due time. Even in the case of emergency Ashraf often issued verbal directives. Several important decisions of the ministry were taken verbally, not in written and he did not sign the files. Now, it may create disorder as the files have been returned to the ministry, the official said.Syed Ashraful Islam, now the Minister for Public Administration, said huge number of files of LGRD Ministry were sent to his residence to sign. But he did not sign any file after taking the charge of the new ministry. “As a result, some files may be returned,” he clarified. “It is not unusual. About 400 files usually come to the minister in a day. The LGRD is a big ministry comprising Union Parished, Upazila Parishad, Zila Parishad and City Corporation. A good number of staff is working here,” Syed Ashraf said. When contacted, new LGRD Minister Engineer Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain admitted that some files were returned from the immediate past minister’s residence for signing. “No problem at all…..We see no difficulties. We will manage it,” he claimed. On the other hand, Secretary of Local Government Division of the Ministry Abdul Malek tried to bypass the issue. “Actually, I’ve no knowledge about the matter,” he said.There is widespread speculation that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has removed Syed Ashraf from the LGRD ministry due to his unwillingness to discharge regular office duties.”Syed Ashraf took the charge of LGRD Ministry in 2009, but he rarely went to the ministry. The scenario was all the same when he again was made LGRD Minister in 2014. In fact, Ashraful Islam was widely known as a ‘seasonal bird’ in the concerned ministry in the word of some insiders as he would hardly receive any telephone call. He also remained absent at the meetings of the cabinet and party’s different wings. On the other hand, Additional Secretary of the LGRD ministry and personal secretary of the minister Ashok Madhob Ray and Assistant Personal Secretary of the minister Selim Khan carried emergency files to the minister’s residence. In this backdrop, Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraf was suddenly relieved of his post as LGRD minister on July 9. He was replaced by Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Engr Khondker Mosharraf Hossain, who is a close relative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s daughter Saima Wazed Putul.Ashraf, son of acting president of Liberation War time government-Syed Nazrul Islam, played a very significant role during the emergency period after 1/11 political turmoil while most of the important leaders including the then general secretary MA Jalil was put behind the bar.He is also known for keeping close connection with the foreign powers particularly; United States of America, United Kingdom, China and India, according to sources.
