Four Bangladeshi advisers resign

Geetiyara Safia Chowdhury advised the government on industry (Pic: Daily Star)

Four advisers to Bangladesh's military-backed caretaker government have resigned for "personal reasons", officials say.

But three of those who have stepped down say they did so at the behest of the government. Their replacements will be sworn in on Wednesday.

The resignations comes near the first anniversary of the interim government's seizure of power on 11 January.

It has promised that elections will be held before the end of the year.

Criticised

The four advisers, Mainul Hosein, Geetiyara Safia Chowdhury, Tapan Chowdhury and Matiur Rahman have been in charge of different ministries of the interim government.

Three of them - Mainul Hosein, Safia Chowdhury and Tapan Chowdhury told reporters that they had resigned "as the government desired", but did not elaborate.

Correspondents say that each of the three has at different times been criticised in the media for making public pronouncements that have displeased the interim administration.

Tapan Chowdhury for example was slated recently for suggesting that spiralling food prices were nothing at all to do with the government.

The administration led by Fakhruddin Ahmed declared a state of emergency last January after violent political protests, and appointed an 11-member non-party interim government.

Backed by the military, the new administration also postponed elections that were due to be held on 22 January.