Thirty ministers were today dropped from the multi-party interim government formed to oversee Bangladesh's general election amid a political deadlock pitting the Awami League against main opposition BNP.
According to a gazette notification, 30 of the 51 members of the cabinet were dropped during a redistribution of portfolios. The interim government was formed recently to conduct the polls due to be held by January 25 next year.
High-profile ministers who lost their status included Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Home Minister Mahiuddin Khan Alamgir, Civil Aviation Minister Faruq Khan, Telecommunication Minister Sahara Khatun and Health Minister Ruhal Haque.
Two technocrat ministers who were dropped, Shafique Ahmed and Dilip Barua, were made the Prime Minister's advisors.
The development came three days after poll-bound Bangladesh installed the interim government headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina despite a boycott by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
The BNP has demanded that polls should be held under a neutral, non-party government. It described the Awami League's actions as a "farce", heightening tensions in the country.
An 18-party alliance led by the BNP has repeatedly rejected Hasina's call to join the multi-party government, saying elections would not be credible under her leadership.
The formation of the multi-party government has pitted the Awami League against the BNP, raising fears of violence ahead of the polls.
