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Five new advisers take oath Portfolio to be distributed today

Staff Correspondent
Five new advisers to the caretaker government were sworn in yesterday evening at Bangabhaban to replace the advisers who resigned in the last few days.
The new advisers are AMM Shawkat Ali. former agriculture secretary. AF Hassan Ariff, former attorney general, Hossain Zillur Rahman, executive chairman of Power and Participation Research Centre. Major General (retd) Ghulam Quader. former director general of National Security Intelligence, and Rasheda K Choudhury, chief executive officer of Campaign for Popular Education.
Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed is likely to distribute today the portfolios of over 16 ministries among the newly appointed advisers. sources in tire cabinet division said.
Six to seven assistants will also be appointed in a couple of days to assist the administration as it failed earlier to expand the advisory' council because of the constitutional obligation not to have more than 11 advisers including the chief adviser, sources said.
The five advisers were appointed a day after the resignation of four advisers for poor performance and controversy over running the administration. Another adviser had resigned earlier over artefacts fiasco. President lajuddin Ahmed appointed the new advisers upon the chief adviser's advice.
With these appointments, the president so far appointed 30
advisers, including one chief adviser, to two caretaker govern ments formed since dissolution of the eighth parliament on October 27,2006.
This has also made the number of advisers appointed to a single caretaker government highest since the system was introduced in
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1996. The two caretaker govern ments formed in 1996 and 2001 together had only 22 advisers, including two chief advisers.
The five newly appointed advisers joined the cabinet at a moment when the caretaker government is facing public outcry over its failure to contain skyrocketed prices of food grains and people's confidence in the interim government seems to be reducing.
The reconstituted Council of Advisers sits this morning to discuss the overall situation, sources in the cabinet division said.
The new advisers pledged to work hard as members of the cabinet for the welfare of the nation and holding a free and fair parliamentary election.
"I would not be here if there was a lack of confidence in my responsibilities and duties. I came here knowing that my new job is risky," Hossain Zillur Rahman told journalists after taking oath.
He sought cooperation from all quarters in finishing his job successfully.
"We took the responsibilities as a challenge...We will work to continue our efforts to meet social, economic and political expectations of the people." Rasheda K Choudhury told The Daily Star last night.
She said they will work in line with the electoral roadmap. On food crisis, she said. "We will work to contain the prices of essentials."
Local Government Adviser Anwarul Iqbal and Agriculture Adviser CS Karim, meantime, said yesterday that the resignation of the five advisers will not affect the implementation of the electoral roadmap.
Talking to reporters at his office, Election Commissioner Muhammed Sohul Hussain echoed the view.
The incumbent administration that began its journey on January 12 following declaration of state of emergency brought major shakeup within itself on the eve of completion of one year into office.
Mainul Hosein. Tapan Chowdhury, Maj Gen (retd) ASM Matiur Rahman and Geeteara
Safiya Choudhury resigned from their posts on Tuesday on advice of the chief adviser. Ayub Quadri resigned his position on December 27 following a huge public outcry over the theft of two artefacts.
Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, other advisers, chiefs of three services, among others, were present at the oath taking ceremony.
FOR PARLIAMENTARY
ELECTION
According to the constitution, a caretaker government is formed with not more than 11 advisers, including the chief adviser and ten other advisers, to do routine work and extend all-out cooperation to the Election Commission (EC) for holding the parliamentary election in a free and fair manner.
The country has seen formation of two caretaker governments since the dissolution of the eighth parliament, but the due polls are yet to be held.
According to the EC electoral roadmap, the parliamentary elections are supposed to be held by December this year.
The political crisis over appointment of the chief adviser, which began before dissolution of the last parliament, deepened following President lajuddin Ahmed's assumption of the office of the chief adviser in October 2006.
lajuddin, however, failed to perform neutrally and his dubious role in running the administration prompted four advisers of his cabinet to step down in December 2006. The president appointed four new advisers but failed to create an atmosphere for holding the parliamentary polls and the Awami League-led grand alliance announced to boycott the polls.
Finally. lajuddin stepped down as chief adviser along with his ten advisers and declared the state of emergency on January 11. The next day he appointed Fakhruddin Ahmed the chief adviser to lead the new caretaker government. On advice of the new chief adviser, lajuddin appointed ten other advisers.