President accepts Murad’s resignation

President Md Abdul Hamid on Tuesday accepted the resignation letter submitted by Md Murad Hassan, who surrendered his portfolio as the state minister for information and broadcasting.

A gazette notification was issued by the Cabinet Division in this regard.

The resignation will come into effect immediately, the notification added.

Earlier on the day, Murad submitted his resignation to the secretariat following a directive from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

On Monday, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader told the media that the prime minister asked the state minister to resign from his post within a day.

The prime minister’s instruction came after Murad’s indecent remarks during a telephonic conversation with a female actor went viral on social media.

His obscene remarks drew flak from the country’s women rights groups, rights activists and academicians apart from the BNP supporters and several former ruling Awami League female leaders.

Murad earlier stirred up controversy by making offensive remarks against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and her family members.

He recently drew criticism by saying that the state religion provision should not remain in the constitution, even though the party’s senior leadership is not considering the matter.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud on Tuesday said both the government and the Awami League felt embarrassed with the indecent remarks of the state minister.

Meanwhile, the ruling Awami League’s Jamalpur district unit relieved Murad Hassan of his position as health affairs secretary.

“The decision was taken at an emergency meeting on Tuesday afternoon,” Advocate Muhammad Baki Billah, president of the district unit Awami League, confirmed the media.

The lawmaker from Jamalpur-4 constituency was relieved from the post for tarnishing the image of the party and on allegation of his involvement in anti-disciplinary activities, according to a press release.

The district committee will send a letter to the Awami League central executive committee for making the final decision, it added.