Prime Minister and Powerful Panel: Tarique Forms 10-Member Advisory Council

Following the 13th National Parliament election, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman has taken oath as the Prime Minister of the new government. He was administered the oath of office by President Mohammad Shahabuddin at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building in the capital.

Alongside the 50-member large cabinet, the new Prime Minister has formed a strong 10-member “Advisory Council” to assist in governing the country, incorporating top party leaders and experienced professionals.

The appointments were confirmed on Tuesday, February 17, through a special gazette notification signed by Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain. In the newly formed Advisory Council, five members have been granted the status of full ministers, while the remaining five have been accorded the rank of state ministers.

Appointed as Advisers to the Prime Minister with the status of full minister are senior BNP leaders Mirza Abbas Uddin Ahmed, Nazrul Islam Khan, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, former government secretary Md. Ismail Zabihullah, and distinguished economist Dr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir.

On the other hand, appointed as Advisers with the rank of state minister are Humayun Kabir, Brigadier General (Retd.) Shamsul Islam, Dr. Zahedur Rahman, Dr. Mahadi Amin, and Rehan Asif Asad. Each of them will be assigned responsibility for a specific ministry.

The gazette notification stated that these appointments have been made under the special authority of the Prime Minister and will take immediate effect.

According to political analysts, the Advisory Council has been formed alongside the cabinet to bring dynamism to the administration by combining the experience of senior party leaders with the expertise of professional specialists.

With today’s historic oath-taking ceremony, a new political and administrative chapter has begun in Bangladesh after a prolonged period.

DBTech/SM/EK/OR