BNP govt reshuffles cabinet

The BNP government on Friday carried out its first major cabinet reshuffle, inducting four full ministers and two state ministers while shifting several key portfolios and promoting a state minister to full minister.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir took oath as President at the historic Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban on Friday evening. He later administered the oath to the newly appointed ministers and state ministers.

BNP Standing Committee Member Dr Abdul Moin Khan, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) Chairman Andaliv Rahman Partha, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Rashiduzzaman Millat and Member of Parliament Saching Pru Jerry took oath as full ministers.

Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Humayun Kabir and Member of Parliament Mohammad Shamim Kaiser Lincoln took oath as state ministers.

As part of the reshuffle, Afroza Khanam is expected to be shifted from the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry to the Food Ministry. Rashiduzzaman Millat has been promoted to full minister and given charge of the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry.

Md Abdul Bari is currently in charge of the Food Ministry and is also the state minister for the Public Administration Ministry. According to relevant sources, if Afroza Khanam is given charge of the Food Ministry, Abdul Bari will continue to serve in the Public Administration Ministry.

Abdul Moin Khan is expected to take charge of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives (LGRD), which was previously held by Mirza Fakhrul. Andaliv Rahman Partha is expected to take charge of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

Relevant sources said Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan would become an adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Discussions are underway to give him ministerial status as an adviser.

Saching Pru Jerry is expected to take charge of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Ministry, while Shamim Kaiser Lincoln will serve as state minister for Religious Affairs.

Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Humayun Kabir will be given charge of the State Minister for Foreign Affairs. Shama Obaid Islam, who currently holds the post, is also expected to remain in charge.

The reshuffle marks the first major reorganisation of the BNP government’s cabinet, with the induction of six new ministers and state ministers and changes in the responsibilities of several ministries.
Tarique Rahman's government was sworn in on Feb 17 after the BNP's landslide victory in the 13th parliamentary polls.
Apart from the prime minister, 25 ministers and 24 state ministers took their oaths that day.