Political parties hail Quadri's decision
Law Adviser Mainul Hosein yesterday accused the press of creating an embarrassing situation for former cultural affairs adviser Ayub Quadri that led to his resignation from the council of advisers.
Three other advisers also said his quitting the post is unfortunate but said the decision was altogether personal.
Different political parties, meantime, welcomed the former adviser's decision, saying his choice is a good sign and demanded stern action against those responsible for the highly publicised heist of the two artefacts from Zia International Airport.
Quadri, who was also in charge of education and primary and mass education ministries, resigned Wednesday afternoon in the wake of huge public outcry over the theft of the two Paris-bound statues.
President Iajuddin Ahmed accepted the resignation yesterday. No replacement for him, however, was finalised till filing of this report yesterday evening.
Terming Quadri a dignified person, Mainul said the former adviser had nothing to do with the disappearance of the two artefacts, adding that the decision to send in the artefacts to a Paris exhibition was a government decision, not his own.
"He was hurt at the role of newspapers … if such an attitude continues to exist, it won't be possible for anyone to keep working," said the law adviser.
When Ayub Quadri told reporters Monday that he would take the responsibility for the failure that led to the heist, one reporter asked him whether he planned to step down.
But Quadri asked the reporter whether he wanted the adviser's resignation. As the newsman pressed for a direct answer, he said, "Let's see. I'll think about it."
Describing Quadri's resignation as "very unfortunate", LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal said, "We were working with team spirit … we'll have to make it up."
Anwar, however, said the adviser's decision was solely personal. "He resigned because he has a sense of self-dignity."
Expressing shock at the development, Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam said, "This is definitely unfortunate. I know him to be a very honest man."
He also termed the decision entirely a personal matter and said, "I've nothing to say. He must have pondered over well before taking the decision."
Communications Adviser MA Matin said, "This is very unfortunate."
Giving support to Quadri's resignation, major political parties, meantime, urged the government to show sincerity in recovering the two stolen artefacts and called for seeking Interpol help, if necessary.
Khaleda Zia-backed BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain said the responsibility for the failure does not fall on the former adviser alone but that the full cabinet will have to take the responsibility.
"It is an individual and collective responsibility," he said while speaking with leaders of Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (Jasas), cultural wing of the BNP, at his residence in the capital.
Awami League presidium member Suranjit Sengupta termed the resignation a good sign.
"It is good that the adviser has taken the responsibility and stepped down," he told The Daily Star. He demanded that the caretaker government arrest the people who were behind the incident.
The Awami League leader observed that the government did not do a good job by taking decision to send in the artefact to France, adding that an elected government would not have done the blunder.
UNB adds that Suranjit Sengupta called on Law Adviser Mainul Hosein, who also heads the public works ministry, to follow suit of Ayub Quadri and resign from the advisory council by taking responsibility for the loss of lives of 11 construction workers inside Rangs Bhaban.
Anisul Islam Mahmud, acting chairman of Jatiya Party (Ershad), said Ayub Quadri's taking responsibility for the failure to safeguard the two Vishnu statues and his subsequent resignation would help strengthen the democratic institutions in the country.
He hoped that the tradition would continue in the future.
Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon said the former adviser was right in his decision. "I think he (Quadri) has set a good example. It'd be welcome if other advisers follow in his footsteps," he told The Daily Star.
Menon, a key leader of the AL-led 14-party combine, called on the government to unmask those who trifled with the cultural heritage of the country.
President of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Hasanul Haque Inu, said the caretaker government should publicly seek unconditional apology to the people for taking the decision to send in the artefacts to France.
He told The Daily Star that the adviser has set a good example by stepping down from a power position after taking responsibility for failure, adding that his decision would be an example for future governments.
Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) General Secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim said Quadri has taken an appropriate decision.
Selim demanded trial of those who were directly and indirectly involved in the heist. He also told this newspaper that the government should employ all means to recover the artefacts.
The CPB leader called on the world to raise voice against the theft.
Jatiya Party presidium member Ziauddin Bablu welcomed the resignation and said the adviser's step is a good process of commencing democratic system in the country.
Others should follow this if required, he told The Daily Star.
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