Easy to resign, hard to accept

President Zillur Rahman has “accepted” Syed Abul Hossain's resignation as ICT minister, said the Cabinet Division yesterday.
His move comes after a month of Abul's stepping down, although the constitution has no provision for the head of state to accept or reject a minister's resignation letter.
A Cabinet Division circular issued yesterday said Abul had stepped down on July 23. "His resignation letter has been accepted by the honourable president."
"Under these circumstances, according to Article 58 (1) (a) of the constitution, the office of minister of Syed Abul Hossain fell vacant on July 23," said the circular signed by Cabinet Secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan.
Article 58(1) (a) says the office of a minister other than the prime minister shall become vacant “if he resigns from office by placing his resignation in the hands of the prime minister for submission to the president.”
Abul tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on July 23, paving the way for the government to revive financial arrangements with the World Bank for the Padma bridge project.
He resigned a day after the finance minister said the government had been considering accepting the WB's fourth condition to persuade the global lender to review the cancellation of the Padma bridge loan.
The WB's condition required the government to send on leave the public officials including former communications minister Abul, who were allegedly involved in corruption in the project.
The World Bank on June 29 cancelled its $1.2 billion fund for the bridge, citing a “corruption conspiracy”.
Abul was removed as transport boss and given charge of the information and communication technology ministry on December 5 last year after the WB brought corruption allegations against him and suspended its loan.