Former state minister for home Tanjim Ahmad Sohel Taj, who tendered
his resignation in May 2009 from the post of State Minister [Junior
Minister] for Home Affairs, is now actively considering resigning from
Bangladesh Awami League after he relinquished his membership in
Bangladesh Parliament on April 23, 2012. Abu Kawsar, additional personal
assistant of Tanjim Ahmad Sohel Taj, submitted the resignation letter
to the speaker's office around 10.25 in the morning. Md Shamim, an
official of the speaker's office, received the letter from the APS.
In the letter, Tanjim Ahmad Sohel Taj said, "My constituency is
Gazipur-4 [Kapasia]. I am submitting my resignation letter to you
[speaker] under section 67 [2] of Bangladesh Constitution."
His resignation came almost three years after he resigned from the
post of state minister for home. Sohel Taj told reporters that he stood
down as the state minister for home affairs on May 31, 2009 so that his
dignity and principles could survive intact.
Tanjim Ahmad Sohel Taj, the only son of country's first Prime
Minister and celebrated politician, Tajuddin Ahmed resigned from the
cabinet five months after the ruling Bangladesh Awami League-led grand
alliance government assumed office. He sent his resignation letter to
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on June 1, 2009 according to the
Constitution. But no gazette notification was issued on his resignation.
But, despite his resignation from the post of State Minister, the
government continued to send monthly honorarium and other financial
benefits to his account, which clearly annoyed the young leader and now
former member of the parliament. So far more than TK 4 million has been
sent to his account by the government. Expressing highest
dissatisfaction, Sohel Taj questioned as to why such a huge amount of
money was sent to his account after two and a half years and why no
gazette notification on his resignation was issued. He also demanded
that the government issue a gazette notification in this regard, as he
thinks his dignity and image of the government as well as the prime
minister have been tarnished for not doing so.
"I want to know why an embarrassing situation has been created by not
issuing a gazette notification. Why mysteriously huge amount of money
was deposited to my account after two and a half years when I did not
get a single coin as remuneration and allowances as a lawmaker since my
resignation? I want answers from the cabinet secretary," commented Sohel
Taj.
Commenting on the resignation of Sohel Taj, Cabinet Secretary M
Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said he was unable to take decision on a
matter related to the rank of a state minister. "I need the prime
minister's guidelines in this regard," he said, adding that it is the
duty of the Cabinet Division to give salary and wages to every minister
and state minister if they officially belong to the government.
He added, a state minister does not have to sign his/her cheque in
receiving salary and wages as it goes automatically to their accounts. A
state minister gets TK 120,800 [US$1491] per month including different
allowances including house rent and fuel allowance.
Sohel Taj told reporters, there is no provision in the Constitution
that resignation of a state minister would not be accepted by the prime
minister. He said he has been kept as state minister on the government's
list forcibly and given remuneration and allowances against the
position forcibly.
"These are clear human rights violation and I'm being disregarded intentionally. I'm no longer a state minister."
He claimed his passport has not been allowed to change by the
government and he has to face embarrassment every time he travels.
"Enough has happened so far and it has to end now," he urged the
government.
Asked why he chose to resign, he said, "I can't tell you why. All I
can say is things did not work out the way I wanted. Now I don't want to
embarrass anyone. I would rather wish everyone best of luck.
"I tried to work sincerely to implement our charter for change even
though it required me to stay away from my family in the US. But I
couldn't continue as I didn't want to compromise my principles, dignity
and family values."
Sohel Taj was also under pressure from influential party leaders to
serve their interests. His nerves began to fray with lobbying for posts,
promotions and undue privileges for police officials getting intense.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Adviser HT Imam said the prime
minister did not accept the resignation. Instead, she asked him to go on
leave for as long as it should take to resolve whatever problems he
had.
Bangladesh Awami League insiders said Hasina wanted him to take leave
of absence as she sought to avoid a controversy like the one during the
rule of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Tajuddin was dropped from
Mujib's cabinet, causing uproar. Afsar Uddin Ahmad Khan, Tajuddin's
younger brother who was state minister for housing and public works in
the previous Bangladesh Awami League government, too left his position
after a short stint.
Commenting on the resignation of Tanjim Ahmad Sohel Taj from the
parliament, political analysts in Dhaka said, "He inherits the honesty,
sincerity and leadership qualities of his father, who also never
comprised with his dignity. By leaving such position, Sohel Taj
certainly proved that he is a righteous individual."
Meanwhile is it learnt from a number of sources that, Tanjim Ahmad Sohel
Taj is actively considering resigning from Bangladesh Awami League as
it is continuing repressive actions on the people as well as the
political opponents, thus exposing a fascist nature at home and abroad.
