DHAKA, 1 October 2006 — Bangladesh’s junior Minister for Power Maj. Gen. (retired) Anwarul Kabir Talukder has resigned after days of violent protests over power shortages, sources said.
Talukder made the decision late Friday, local television station Channel-I reported. Prime Minister’s Office said that the minister was “relived of his responsibility.”
However, Talukder phoned the station and said he was resigning because of his “failure,” it said. “Nobody asked me to resign,” Talukder told Channel-I.
“I think I have failed to meet people’s expectations. I have tried my best, but I have failed.” Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is in charge of the ministry, but Talukder — who became state minister for power four months ago — handled day-to-day operations. Officials could not be reached for comment.
On Thursday, about 200 people were injured in Dhaka, when police clashed with thousands of protesters who attacked government offices, smashed vehicles, set fire to police vans and put up barricades on a major highway.
