Syed Ashraful reaffirms his loyalty to Awami League

Syed Ashraful Islam says he will continue to work for his party even after his removal from the politically crucial LGRD and cooperatives ministry.  Stating that his father gave his life for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Syed Ashraful reaffirmed his loyalty for the party.  “I’m not in politics to make a fortune for myself,” the Awami League General Secretary said at an Iftar programme in Dhaka Saturday in an oblique reference to his removal from the ministry Thursday.  “My father was an honest politician and gave his life for the leader (Bangabandhu),” Ashraf said. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina removed the ruling party’s number two from the crucial ministry and made him a minister without portfolio. Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, her daughter’s father-in-law, has been given additional charge of the ministry. Awami League leaders say Ashraf’s loyalty to party chief Hasina was beyond question. On Saturday, he attended an Iftar programme hosted by people of Hossainpur, who are living in Dhaka. The Upazila falls under his Kishoreganj-1 constituency. Hossainpur freedom fighters’ commander, Abdur Rahim, said they were angry over the move.  “We’re with him (Ashraf) and will continue to support him,” he said. After the assassination of Bangabandhu, Ashraf’s father Syed Nazrul Islam, acting president of the government in exile, along with Tajuddin Ahmed, M Mansur Ali and AHM Kamruzzaman were arrested and killed in jail on Nov 3, 1975.  Ashraf said: “My father did not betray Bangabandhu. Whether or not I am minister, or continue to be in politics, I will always stand by the people of Hossainpur,” according to a news agency