Four Bangladesh government "ministers" quit

By Anis Ahmed

DHAKA (Reuters) - Four key advisers to Bangladesh's army-backed interim government -- equivalent to cabinet ministers -- resigned on Tuesday, but new advisers were likely to be sworn in later in the day, a government spokesman said.

The reason for their sudden departure was not clear. Syed Fahim Minaim, press secretary of government head Fakhruddin Ahmed, told reporters the four advisers had cited personal reasons, but one of the four said they had been asked to resign.

The Awami League said the government should now hold early elections and return power to elected representatives, and the rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party said the resignations showed that power should be handed back to politicians.

The four who quit included Mainul Husein, who held the Law and Information portfolio, and Tapan Chowdhury, responsible for Food, a sensitive post at a time of soaring market prices.

"We were summoned to the office of the chief adviser and were asked to resign," Mainul told reporters. "We followed his advice."

Fakhruddin, a former central bank governor, heads the interim government and leads the Council of Advisers (cabinet).

Education and Cultural Affairs adviser Ayub Quadri resigned last month after two ancient statues of the Hindu god Vishnu were stolen from Dhaka airport while being sent to a Paris museum for an exhibition. His post has yet to be filled.

Awami League acting chief Zillur Rahman demanded early polls. "Mere resignations and filling vacancies will not help overcome a brewing crisis facing the interim government."