Central working committee to decide Murad’s AL membership: Quader

Awami League Secretary General Obaidul Quader said Dr. Murad Hasan’s fate in the party would be decided by its central working committee.

“I have been informed by the Jamalpur district unit of the Awami League that there [Murad] could be expelled from the local committee.

“The decision on his joining the party will be taken at the next meeting of our central working committee,” Quader told the secretariat on Tuesday evening.

Quader, also minister of roads, transport and bridges, said the Awami League would not tolerate such controversial activities by Murad.

Shortly after this briefing, former Minister of State for Information Murad was expelled by the ruling party’s Jamalpur unit at around 5:20 p.m.

He was the Health, Population and Family Welfare Secretary of Awami League Jamalpur District Unit.

Earlier, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murad Hasan submitted a resignation letter to the Information Ministry, citing “personal reasons”.

Earlier Monday night, Quader told reporters that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ordered Murad to stand down following disparaging remarks about the daughter of acting BNP chairman Tarique Rahman.

The Minister of State has been in the spotlight for a few days for his disparaging remarks.

Amid criticism, a leaked phone conversation the minister of state had with an actress came under fire on Monday.

Subsequently, senior Awami League leaders said that if the allegations against the Minister of State were found to be true, the party would take action against him.

Murad Hasan made hateful and racist remarks a few days ago about Tarique Rahman’s daughter, Zaima Rahman. Additionally, in the leaked phone conversation, he was heard threatening the actress with abusive words.

Many Awami League leaders said the two consecutive incidents involving the Minister of State also embarrassed the government and the party.

Despite being criticized for his comments about the BNP leader’s daughter, Murad Hasan told the BBC on Sunday night that he would not withdraw his comments and that he had done nothing wrong.

But the incident sparked controversy in the political arena when BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir demanded the resignation of the Minister of State.