DHAKA: Seven ministers will get further notice shortly to vacate flats in the MP buildings (NAM flats) at Manik Mia Avenue and Nakhalpara in city.

The ministers who are asked to vacate their flats include – shipping minister Shahjahan Khan, communications minister Obaidul Quader, land minister Shamsur Rahman Sharif, LGRD minister Syed Ashraful Islam and fisheries and livestock minister Mohammad Saidul Haque.

The others are former deputy minister now minister Abdullah Al Islam Jakob and former state minister now minister Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Nazrul Islam.

Chief Whip and also parliament committee president ASM Feroz made the disclosure at the third committee meeting on Monday at the Parliament.

As per the existing rule, an MP, who has become a minister, has to move to the ministerial apartments vacating flats held as an MP in the NAM buildings.

Some ministers of the 10th parliament are occupying both the MP flats and their ministerial residences at a same time.

However, premier Sheikh Hasina passed an order in the parliamentary party meeting to ensure flats for every MP.

Chief whip ASM Feroz said that the ministers were already noticed several times to vacate the flats, but they started showing excuses.

Earlier, the parliamentary committee decided that ministers of the 10th parliament will not be allotted flats in the MP buildings.

According to the committee decision, only the legislators themselves or their family members including spouses, parents, sons and daughters can live in the 324 flats of six MP buildings on Manik Mia Avenue and four at Nakhalpara in the capital.

BDST: 2056 HRS, AUG 18, 2014