Murad resigns, seeks apology

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Md Murad Hassan has submitted his resignation to the Secretariat following a directive from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The junior minister sent his resignation to the Secretariat at 12:00pm on Tuesday.

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

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

Just after the resignation, Murad, in a Facebook post on his verified page, sought apology to all women saying, “Forgive me if I have done anything wrong or if my words have hurt any mother and sister.”

“I will forever abide by all the decisions of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he added.

His remarks drew flaks 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 derogatory remarks against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and her family members. He recently drew flaks 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.

‘Faces expulsion from Awami League’

A decision on the expulsion of Md Murad Hassan, who resigned from the cabinet following criticism over his offensive remarks, from the ruling Awami League will be taken at the next meeting of the party’s executive committee.

The ruling party’s Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif disclosed the matter to reporters at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Tuesday. “If there is a complaint against any member of the Awami League, he/she will be punished regardless of their position, provided that the allegation is proved,” said Hanif.

Jamalpur AL relieves Murad from post

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

“The decision was taken at an emergency meeting this 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 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 final decision, it added.

‘Murad’s recent remarks embarrassed party, govt’

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

“We’ve noticed some changes in Murad over the past few days and his recent remarks embarrassed both the government and the party. That’s why the prime minister has asked him to quit,” he said while talking to reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

Replying to a question, the minister said Murad is the Health Affairs secretary of Jamalpur district unit Awami League and they will decide whether Murad will remain there in his post or not.

“Murad made his remarks without any consultation with the party and the prime minister,” he said.

Murad Hassan had been under increasing criticism by various quarters for his disrespectful remarks on women in an interview on social media. A number of audios and videos containing indecent remarks by Murad Hassan also went viral on social media during the last few days.

A two-year-old phone conversation of the junior minister with actor Mamnun Hasan Emon and actress Mahiya Mahi recently went viral on social media. In that audio clip, Murad made “derogatory comments” on the actress, threatened her and gave her an alleged indecent proposal.

On Monday, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked State Minister for Information Murad Hassan to resign from the cabinet by Tuesday for his recent derogatory remarks on social media.

Demanding his immediate resignation, women and rights bodies and political parties slammed Murad for the indecent remarks he made against women.