Bangladesh PM asks technocrat ministers to resign ahead of polls

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked four technocrat ministers to resign as part of a process to reconstitute the Cabinet ahead of the parliamentary polls expected in December, a party leader said Tuesday.

The announcement came amid speculation that the Kamal-Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya front may place a proposal on Wednesday during the talks with the Prime Minister to form an election-time Cabinet inducting some ministers from the opposition parties.

"She has asked the technocrat ministers in the Cabinet to tender their resignation letters," ruling Awai League's general secretary Obaidul Quader told reporters at the premier's Ganabhaban official residence.

Quader, who is also the road transport minister, said "there is no space for unelected individuals at the election-time Cabinet" but did not point out when the resignations would come into effect.

The 54-member council of ministers currently has four technocrat ministers - Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Nurul Islam, State Minister for Science and Technology Yafes Osman, Religious Affairs Minister Motiur Rahman, and Information Technology Minister Mustafa Jabbar.

Hasina earlier said there was no constitutional obligation on her part to reduce the Cabinet size but hinted that that there would be a change in the council of ministers once the election schedule was announced.

The statutory election commission said it would announce the election schedule on November 8.

Prime Minister Hasina is scheduled to hold a press conference at Ganabhaban on November 8, after wrapping up her talks with opposition leaders.