B’desh installs all party interim govt to oversee elections

Dhaka: Poll-bound Bangladesh on Monday installed an “all-party” interim government headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to oversee upcoming elections despite boycott by the main opposition BNP which termed the move as “farce”, heightening tension in the country.
Six ministers and two state ministers took oath to join an election-time Cabinet. President Abdul Hamid administered the oath at the presidential palace.
All the new ministers are from the constituents of the Awami League-led grand alliance. The new ministers are: Amir Hossain Amu and Tofail Ahmed (Awami League), Rashed Khan Menon (Workers Party), and Anisul Islam Mahmud, Ruhul Amin Hawlader and Rawshan Ershad (Jatiya Party).
The state ministers are: Mujibul Haque Chunnu and Salma Islam (Jatiya Party). The Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its 18-party alliance have repeatedly rejected Hasina’s call to join the all-party government, saying elections would not be credible under her leadership. The BNP termed the all-party cabinet as “farce”.  (PTI)