BNP Back with Bold Bench
After nearly two decades, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has returned to power with an absolute majority, following the 13th National Parliament election. On Tuesday afternoon, February 17, party Chairman Tarique Rahman was sworn in as Prime Minister. Alongside him, members of his new cabinet also took oath, marking the beginning of the BNP government's journey with 25 ministers and 24 state ministers under his leadership as the country’s 11th Prime Minister.
All members were administered the oath for the first time at the South Plaza of the National Parliament. With this ceremony, President Mohammad Shahabuddin administered oath to three different governments within a span of just three years.
The newly formed BNP cabinet, constituted after nearly 19 years, consists of 50 members, including 25 ministers and 24 state ministers. Among them, two ministers and one state minister have been appointed under the technocrat quota. The cabinet features a significant number of fresh faces—many of whom have never previously served as minister or state minister. Several members have been elected as Members of Parliament for the first time and have directly secured positions in the cabinet. However, BNP Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Nazrul Islam Khan, Selima Rahman, Amanullah Aman, and Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, along with Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, have not been included in the cabinet. It is learned that the President and Speaker may be chosen from among them.
Out of the 25 ministers, 17 are new faces, meaning 68 percent of the ministers are newly appointed. All 24 state ministers are new as well. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman himself is entering the cabinet for the first time and will additionally serve as Minister of Defence alongside his role as Prime Minister.
According to the list prepared by the Cabinet Division, 10 members each have been included from Dhaka and Chattogram divisions. Rajshahi division has 6 representatives, Barishal and Mymensingh have 5 each, Khulna and Rangpur have 4 each, while Sylhet division has the lowest representation with 2 members.
Sources said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will begin office at the Secretariat on Wednesday, February 18, along with members of the Council of Ministers. On the first working day, he is scheduled to hold a special meeting with cabinet members and exchange views with secretaries.
Among those expected to be present are BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives; Salahuddin Ahmed as Home Minister; Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury as Minister for Finance and Planning; Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed as Minister for Liberation War Affairs; Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku as Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources; Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain as Minister for Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare; Abdul Awal Mintoo as Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Mizanur Rahman Minu as Minister for Land; Nitai Roy Chowdhury as Minister for Culture; and Mohammad Asaduzzaman as Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
Also attending are Fakir Mahbub Anam as Minister for Posts and Telecommunications and Science and Technology; Ehsanul Haque Milon as Minister for Education and Primary and Mass Education; Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir as Minister for Commerce, Industries, Textiles and Jute; Zahir Uddin Swapan as Minister for Information and Broadcasting; Zakaria Taher as Minister for Housing and Public Works; Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad as Minister for Religious Affairs; Ariful Haque Chowdhury as Minister for Labour and Employment and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment; Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie as Minister for Water Resources; Afroza Khanam as Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism; Asadul Habib Dulu as Minister for Disaster Management and Relief; Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain Bakul as Minister for Health and Family Planning; Sheikh Robiul Alam as Minister for Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping; and Dipen Dewan as Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs.
Under the technocrat quota, Aminur Rashid has been appointed Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock, and Food, while Dr. Khalilur Rahman has been appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Among the state ministers are Dr. MA Muhit (Posts and Telecommunications and Science and Technology, with additional charge of Health and Family Welfare); M. Rashidul Zaman Millat (Civil Aviation and Tourism); Anindya Islam Amit (Power, Energy and Mineral Resources); Md. Shariful Alam (Commerce, Industries, Textiles and Jute); Shama Obaed (Foreign Affairs); Sultan Salauddin Tuku (Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock, and Food); Barrister Kaiser Kamal (Land); Farhad Hossain Azad (Water Resources); Aminul Haque (Youth and Sports); Mir Helal Uddin (Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs); Habibur Rashid (Road Transport and Bridges); Md. Rajib Ahsan (Railways and Shipping); Md. Abdul Bari (Public Administration); Mir Shahe Alam (Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives); Md. Junaid Abdur Rahim Saki (Finance and Planning); Ishraq Hossain (Liberation War Affairs); Farzana Sharmin (Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare); Sheikh Faridul Islam (Environment, Forest and Climate Change); Md. Nurul Haque Nur (Labour and Employment and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment); Yaser Khan Chowdhury (Information and Broadcasting); M. Iqbal Hossain (Disaster Management and Relief); Ahmad Sohel Manzur (Housing and Public Works); Bobby Hajjaj (Education and Primary and Mass Education); and Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam (Cultural Affairs).
DBTech/IH/MI/OR
