Advisers Asif Mahmud and Mahfuz Alam resign

Two advisers of the interim government, Mahfuz Alam and Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, have resigned from their posts. A source from the chief adviser's office confirmed the matter to a national media outlet on Wednesday evening.

Asif Mahmud was overseeing the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, as well as the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Mahfuz Alam was serving as adviser to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The resignation was confirmed by highly placed government officials after the two handed in their letters following a meeting with chief adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday December 10 evening.

Sources said the chief adviser’s press wing has convened a briefing on the matter at around 6:15pm today.

According to government sources, several senior advisers held a meeting with Muhammad Yunus at Jamuna on Tuesday December 9. During that meeting, the issue of the two advisers stepping down was discussed. Officials became certain later that evening that Asif Mahmud would resign the following day.

Top officials of the interim government had recommended in mid-September that both advisers leave their posts. However, they asked for more time. At one stage, Mahfuz Alam expressed his intention to remain in the government until the end of its tenure and stated that he would not contest the election.

Last month, government high-ups once again reminded them to step down, sources said.

After Sheikh Hasina’s government fell on August 5 last year, the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus was formed on August 8. As representatives of students who led the July uprising, three of them entered the advisory council.

Nahid Islam received the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Asif Mahmud took charge of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Later, during redistribution of responsibilities, he was also assigned the Ministry of Labour.

Meanwhile, Mahfuz Alam initially joined as special assistant to the chief adviser with the rank of adviser. Later, through redistribution of responsibilities, he was assigned to the Ministry of Local Government.