Six join Cabinet in 1st major reshuffle
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has begun the first major restructuring of his Cabinet since taking office, inducting four ministers and two state ministers six months after his government was formed.
The expansion brings six new members into the Council of Ministers and is expected to be followed by a broader redistribution of ministerial portfolios, including changes among some existing ministers.
The government has yet to formally announce the ministries assigned to the newly appointed members.
Newly elected President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir administered their oaths at 7:45pm on Friday at the Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban. Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani conducted the oath-taking ceremony.
BNP Standing Committee member and Narsingdi-2 MP Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) Chairman and Bhola-1 MP Andaleeve Rahman Partho, Bandarban MP Saching Prue Jerry and Rashiduzzaman Millat took oath as ministers.
Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir and Gaibandha-4 MP Mohammad Shamim Kaiser Lincoln were sworn in as state ministers.
The appointments are expected to trigger a wider reshuffle of ministerial responsibilities.
Several senior government sources said Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan is likely to take charge of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, which was previously held by Mirza Fakhrul before he became president.
Andaleeve Rahman Partho is expected to be given charge of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Sources said its current minister, Zahir Uddin Swapan, may instead be appointed an adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
Saching Prue Jerry, a BNP executive committee member, is reportedly set to take charge of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs.
His appointment would put a senior political figure from the hill region at the helm of a ministry directly responsible for administration and development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Mohammad Shamim Kaiser Lincoln is expected to serve as state minister for religious affairs.
Rashiduzzaman Millat, who had been serving as state minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, was elevated to a full minister on Friday.
Government sources said he is likely to retain the same portfolio, while the ministry’s current minister, Afroza Khanam Rita, could be moved elsewhere in the reshuffle.
The Cabinet expansion marks the first significant addition to Tarique’s ministerial team since the government was formed six months ago. It also brings greater representation of BNP leaders, coalition partners and lawmakers from different regions into the Council of Ministers.
The move comes as the government prepares to realign ministerial responsibilities and strengthen its administrative structure.
While the oath-taking formally completes the appointments, the eventual allocation of portfolios will determine the specific responsibilities of the six new members.
Government sources said the ministry allocations and possible transfers involving existing ministers could be announced as part of the broader Cabinet reshuffle.
