In the new government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, no ministers or state ministers have been appointed from 25 districts across the country.
Notably, Noakhali-traditionally considered a BNP stronghold-has not been represented in the Cabinet. Several newly appointed ministers and state ministers are sons or daughters of former BNP Cabinet members.
Several Awami League-dominated districts, including Gopalganj, as well as Jamaat-influenced areas in the northern and southwestern regions, have also been left without representation.
An analysis of the Cabinet list shows that BNP performed particularly well in Cumilla, which is reflected in the Cabinet composition. Although the party secured comparatively fewer seats in northern Bangladesh, the region has received notable representation. While Dhaka city has multiple Cabinet representatives, many surrounding districts have been excluded.
The newly appointed state ministers took oath on Tuesday afternoon, administered by President Md Shahabuddin.
BNP failed to win any of the 30 seats across eight districts-Kurigram, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Chapainawabganj, Meherpur, Satkhira, and Chuadanga-resulting in no Cabinet representation from these areas. Despite being a long-standing BNP stronghold, Noakhali did not secure any Cabinet positions, although leaders such as Moudud Ahmed had previously served as ministers from the district.
Among major districts, Khulna has been excluded from the Cabinet despite BNP winning four of its six seats. In Jashore, the party lost five of six seats; the sole BNP winner, Anindya Islam Amit, has been appointed as a state minister. His father, Tariqul Islam, previously served as a minister in a BNP-led government.
In Gopalganj-the birthplace of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina-BNP won three parliamentary seats for the first time. However, no representative from the district has been included in the Cabinet.
Similarly, Madaripur and Shariatpur-also considered Awami League strongholds-have not received Cabinet positions, despite BNP winning multiple seats in those districts.
Faridpur and Rajbari have each secured one state minister. From Faridpur, Shama Obaid Islam, daughter of former BNP leader K.M. Obaidur Rahman, has been appointed state minister, while Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam from Rajbari has also been appointed as state minister.
In Dhaka district, BNP won 15 of 20 seats. Sheikh Robiul Alam has been appointed as a full minister, taking charge of the Ministry of Road, Rail and Water Transport in his first term as an MP. Four state ministers have also been appointed. Former footballer Aminul Haque, who lost in Dhaka-16, has been appointed as a state minister under the technocrat quota. Ishraq Hossain, son of former minister and Dhaka mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, was made state minister.
Despite winning seats in Dohar, Nawabganj, Savar, and Dhamrai, BNP did not appoint any Cabinet member from those constituencies. Similarly, no representatives from Munshiganj, Narayanganj, or Gazipur have been included, although BNP won multiple seats in these districts. From Tangail, only Sultan Salauddin Tuku has been appointed as a state minister.
Although BNP secured comparatively fewer seats in Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions, northern Bangladesh has notable representation in the Cabinet. In Rangpur division, BNP won 13 of 33 seats, while Jamaat-e-Islami won 17 and NCP won two.
Multiple full ministers and state ministers have been appointed from the division, including BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir from Thakurgaon, A.Z.M. Zahid Hossain from Dinajpur, Asadul Habib Dulu from Lalmonirhat, and Farhad Hossain Azad from Panchagarh.
In Rajshahi division, BNP won 28 of 39 seats. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman hails from Bogura. From this division, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud of Sirajganj and Mizanur Rahman Minu of Rajshahi have been appointed as full ministers. Several state ministers have also been appointed from Bogura, Natore, Joypurhat, and Sirajganj.
BNP achieved major electoral success in the greater Cumilla and Noakhali regions. In Cumilla, BNP won eight of 11 seats, resulting in three full ministers from the district: Mohammad Aminur Rashid (technocrat), Zakaria Taher Sumon, and Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad. From Chandpur, ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon has been appointed as a full minister, while Jonaed Abdur Rahim Saki from Brahmanbaria has been appointed as a state minister. Although Noakhali district itself has no Cabinet representation, Abdul Awal Mintoo from Feni and Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie from Lakshmipur have been appointed as ministers.
