Sohel Taj returns as 'minister of state'
Tanjim Ahmad Sohel Taj, who resigned as state minister for home in June last year and was staying in the United States, returned home yesterday.
He arrived at Zia International Airport around 10:00am and went straight to his mother's Banani residence.
A state protocol was arranged for him, and he was received at the airport by the home secretary and two joint secretaries.
A good number of people from his parliamentary constituency in Gazipur also went there to welcome the lawmaker.
Sohel Taj, son of the country's first prime minister Tajuddin Ahmed and the youngest member of Sheikh Hasina-led council of ministers, first refused to accept the protocol but agreed to it later.
On Tuesday, the Cabinet Division in a letter to the home ministry said Sohel Taj is state minister without portfolio, and asked it to provide him state protocol.
Sohel Taj stepped down as state minister on June 1 last year citing personal reasons. His resignation followed reported criticisms from some high-ups in the government. There were also reports of "misunderstanding" with home minister on different issues.
He had submitted his resignation letter to the prime minister.
Prior to that Sohel Taj was reported to have said he would leave the country if he could not work independently.
The home minister however said at that time he (Sohel) had applied for leave. And she knew nothing about his resignation.
Sohel Taj left for the US on June 9 and stayed there with his family.
Sources in the ruling Awami League said Sohel Taj has returned home to avert losing membership of parliament for absence from the House sittings for 90 days in a row.
They also said the prime minister's son Sajeed Wazed Joy, who also lives in the US, had talks with him (Sohel) in this regard.
Seeking anonymity, an AL insider said, “Sohel Taj might also be made a joint general secretary of the party."
In this connection, he mentioned that a post of joint general secretary in the party's 73-member central executive committee is still vacant.
His remarks about Sohel Taj however could not be confirmed from party high-ups.
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