Who Will Be the Telecoms-ICT and Science Minister?

Following their victory in more than two-thirds of the seats in the 13th National Parliament election, the BNP has begun preparations to form the government. The party chairman, Tarique Rahman, is set to become the new Prime Minister. Discussions are already underway regarding who will take responsibility for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Science and Technology in his cabinet.

Initial information suggests that Alhaj্ব Aman Ullah Aman, the newly elected Member of Parliament from Dhaka-2 constituency in Keraniganj, may become the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications. If this 64-year-old former VP of DUCSU, who currently serves as an advisor to the BNP Chairperson, takes on another major responsibility, then Anindya Islam Amit, a subject-matter expert and young Member of Parliament from Jessore-3 constituency, may be considered for the post. The son of former BNP Information Minister Tariqul Islam, Amit completed his SSC from Jhenaidah Cadet College and graduated from Dhaka University with a degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Sources say that Ishraq Hossain, the winner from Dhaka-6 constituency, is likely to be appointed as the State Minister for the Information and Communication Technology Division, a department under this ministry. He is the youngest son of former Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka. He holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hertfordshire in the UK.

On the other hand, Dr. Moin Khan, the former Minister of Science and Technology, may be given the responsibility of the Information Ministry this time. Mahdi Amin, the education and research advisor to BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman and a key member of the election steering committee, could become a minister in the technocrat quota for the Science and Technology Ministry. Mahdi is a teacher and researcher at the University of Cambridge in the UK and was the President of the international think tank, Bangladesh Policy Forum Cambridge.

Reliable sources indicate that while the cabinet list is yet to be finalised, these names are currently at the forefront of discussions.

DBTech/SM/MI