The government has removed Syed Ashraful Islam from the ministry of LGRD and Co-operatives, said cabinet secretary Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan.

Bhuiyan told the Daily Observer over phone on Thursday that expatriates' welfare and overseas employment minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain has been given full charge of LGRD and Co-operatives ministry.

Khandker Mosharraf Hossain will also continue earlier portfolio for the ministry of expatriates' welfare and overseas employment.
 
The cabinet secretary, however, did not elaborate the reason behind Syed Ashraf's removal.

Syed Ashraf, general secretary of ruling Awami League, is now minister without portfolio.

The minister's removal  was reported at different dailies on Tuesday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was annoyed at Syed Ashraf for his absence at the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting. At the meeting the prime minister asked the cabinet division to prepare a summary for his removal, said a senior minister who attended the ECNEC meeting.

As soon as the news of Ashraf's removal spread on Tuesday afternoon, at an iftar party in Kishoreganj, Ashraful told the journalists not to pay heed to rumours.

Officials concerned said that Syed Ashraful Islam does not attend office regularly.

RI