Staff Reporter
The Bangladesh Secretariat was abuzz with renewed activities on Sunday as the newly appointed ministers entered their offices on the first day of their terms.
Officials of different directorates, ministries and well-wishers from different levels came to the secretariat on the day to greet the ministers defying cold and foggy weather.
They have been seen going to different offices with bouquets. Many of them came by car. As a result, there was extra pressure on car parking in the secretariat.
On the first day of assuming office, the newly-appointed ministers highlighted the challenges that lay ahead, while also outlining their blueprint for tackling those.
Issues of corruption, prices of essentials, inflation, international pressure, currency devaluation and the global economic situation, among other issues, dominated discussions, which had firm focus on the road ahead.
The office personnel welcomed the new ministers and state ministers with flowers.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader met the officials of the ministry and said, “It is a big challenge to maintain order and discipline on the streets. But Bangladesh will move forward, braving all challenges.”
Saber Hossain Chowdhury, who returned to the Secretariat after a long time, met office personnel and said he wanted to draft a 100-day plan within the next seven days to fulfill his election commitments.
“We need to prevent air pollution and conserve the forest. For sustainable development, we must protect the environment. I won’t tolerate any corruption or irregularities in this regard,” he added.
Zunaid Ahmed Palak, who oversaw the information technology division in the last two terms, became the state minister for the entire ministry this time and met office personnel on his first day and shared a post about it on social media.
Officers welcomed State Minister for Information Mohammad Ali Arafat when he went to the office.
They briefed the new state minister on the ministry’s work.
State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu attended a briefing at his ministry on the first day.
A crucial part of the Awami League election manifesto was to keep prices of essentials within the reasonable purchasing capacity of the people, the state minister said and added that he would do his best to ensure the commerce ministry plays its proper role in keeping that promise.
“We will ensure that the prices ease from the producer to consumer level and will also focus on the supply chain so it runs smoothly,” the commerce ministry said.
The Awami League formed the government for a fourth consecutive term after it won a landslide victory in the 12th national polls amid a boycott by the BNP.
