Three BNP Ministers resign in eight months

Three ministers and state ministers of the BNP government and a reserved-seat MP have resigned within eight months of the government taking office, sparking political debate over the reasons behind their departures.

The latest resignation came on Monday (October 19), when State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain announced his decision to step down following controversy over his participation in an anti-drug drive in Dhaka, where he was seen carrying a firearm.

According to reports, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman instructed him to resign after the incident triggered criticism. Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman said no one was above the law, regardless of their closeness to the prime minister.

Earlier, Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Dipen Dewan resigned on June 1, citing health problems. However, his departure also sparked speculation over internal party politics and disagreements over administrative decisions. His supporters later protested in Rangamati, claiming he had been forced to resign.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan resigned on August 22 and was appointed the prime minister’s political adviser with ministerial status on the same day. His departure came a day after Andalib Rahman Partho was given charge of the information ministry. No official reason was given for the change.

Meanwhile, reserved-seat MP Ferdousi Ahmed Misty submitted her resignation on October 1 following an incident involving an attack and vandalism at the Radda MCH-FP Centre in Mirpur, Dhaka. Parliament later declared her seat vacant.

The resignations have fuelled discussions about government accountability and party decisions, with officially stated reasons differing from speculation in political circles.

-AJM