Prime Minister Tarique Rahman appoints 10 advisers, including Abbas, Nazrul, Rizvi

Exercising the authority of the Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the new Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has appointed 10 individuals as advisers with the rank of minister and state minister.

With the rank of minister, Mirza Abbas Uddin Ahmed, Nazrul Islam Khan, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, Md Ismail Zabihullah, and Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir have been appointed as advisers.

With the rank of state minister, Humayun Kabir, Brigadier General (retd.) Shamsul Islam, Zahed Ur Rahman, Mahadi Amin, and Rehan Asif Asad have been appointed as advisers.

Immediately after the newly elected members of parliament took their oaths, the cabinet division began issuing invitations to members of the new cabinet.

Ehshanul Hoque Milon was confirmed to have received his call at around 11:30 am Tuesday to join the cabinet, according to a close source who spoke to Prothom Alo.

The oath-taking ceremony for those appointed as ministers and state ministers is scheduled for 4:00 pm today at the South Plaza of the national parliament. Invitations are being issued to all who are to be sworn in.

Ehshanul Hoque Milon, the MP for Chandpur–1, previously served as deputy minister of education in Khaleda Zia’s government in 2001.

He has once again been elected from the same constituency.

In the 13th parliamentary elections, the BNP secured a two-thirds majority, and its newly elected MPs took their oaths this morning under the leadership of party chairman Tarique Rahman.

While they were sworn in as MPs, they did not take the oath as members of the constitutional reform council.

The new cabinet may comprise 50 members. The cabinet division is sending 49 vehicles to transport the new ministers to and from the swearing-in ceremony. Of them, 25 are expected to be full ministers and 24 state ministers, according to sources.

The cabinet division has already begun calling prospective members to invite them to take the oath. Among them, former state minister for education Ehshanul Hoque Milon has reportedly received a call, sources concerned said.

Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and the Speaker of India’s Lok Sabha, Om Birla, are arriving in Dhaka today, Tuesday, to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh’s new government.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain will receive the president of the Maldives and the prime minister of Bhutan, while the foreign secretary will welcome the speaker of India’s Lok Sabha.

Among the guests, the president of the Maldives has arrived on a regular flight. The prime minister of Bhutan and the speaker of India’s Lok Sabha are travelling to Dhaka on special flights.

Meanwhile, representatives from the United Kingdom, Turkey, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka arrived in Dhaka between Monday afternoon and early Tuesday to attend the ceremony. The UK will be represented by its Indo-Pacific Under-Secretary Seema Malhotra; Turkey by Under-Secretary Beris Ekinci; Pakistan by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal; Nepal by Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma; and Sri Lanka by Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa.

To attend the swearing-in of the new government, interim government Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus invited the heads of government of 14 countries last Saturday, including China, Japan, India and Pakistan. The other countries are Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives and Bhutan.

However, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia and Brunei will be represented at the ceremony by their respective ambassadors stationed in Bangladesh.

The BNP is set to form the government after securing more than two-thirds of the seats in the 13th national parliament election held on 12 February.

Shariful Alam, the newly elected member of parliament (MP) from Kishoreganj-6, has received a call to serve as a state minister.

The BNP-elected MP, who won his seat for the first time in this election, took oath as a member of parliament today, Tuesday.

Speaking to Prothom Alo over the phone, he confirmed that he had received a call regarding his appointment as a state minister.

Nurul Haque (Nur), elected from Patuakhali-3 (Galachipa–Dashmina) in the 13th National Parliament election, has received a call to take oath as a state minister.

Mir Shahe Alam, elected from Bogura-2 (Shibganj) as the BNP-nominated 'Dhaner Sheesh (sheaf of paddy)' candidate, has received a call to take oath as a state minister. He is also the vice-president of Bogura District BNP.

Zahir Uddin Swapon, the MP for Barishal-1, has also received a call to be sworn in as a cabinet member. This BNP leader has been called to be sworn in as a minister.

Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, MP for Sylhet-1 (City and Sadar), has been slated to join the new cabinet as a full minister. Speaking to Prothom Alo at 12:30 pm today, Tuesday, he said, “I seek the prayers of the people of Sylhet and the nation. I hope to live up to the trust the party has shown in me.”

The new cabinet will take oath this evening. The cabinet division has called Khandaker Abdul Muktadir to be sworn in as a minister. This is his first term as an elected MP.

Ariful Haque Choudhury has received a call to take oath as a minister. Elected as an MP for the first time, he told Prothom Alo at 12:30 pm, “I will work together with everyone. The party has valued a grassroots worker like me, and I hope to repay that trust through my work. I seek everyone’s prayers.”

Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain Kaikobad, the BNP candidate from Comilla-3 (Muradnagar), is set to become a minister. He has contested this seat six times and won on all six occasions.

Haji Aminur Rashid Yasin has received a call to take the oath as a state minister. He will be sworn in as a technocrat state minister.

Forhad Hossain Azad, elected from Panchagarh-2 (Boda and Debiganj) constituency representing the BNP, is set to become a state minister. He serves as the BNP’s national executive committee secretary for rural development and as the secretary of Panchagarh district BNP unit.

Former footballer Aminul Haque has received a call to be sworn-in as a state minister. The cabinet division contacted him regarding the oath. He contested in the election from Dhaka-16 but lost. Now, he will take the oath as a technocrat.

M Rashiduzzaman Millat, elected from Jamalpur-1 (Dewanganj-Bakshiganj) in the 13th national parliament election, has received a call to be sworn-in as a state minister.

Khalilur Rahman, national security adviser in the interim government, has received a call to be sworn-in as a minister under the technocrat quota.

Zakaria Taher (Sumon) has received a call to be sworn-in as a state minister.

The new cabinet will see BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Salahuddin Ahmed, Hafizuddin Ahmed, central leader Abdul Awal Mintoo, AZM Zahid Hossain, Mizanur Rahman Minu, Md Asaduzzaman, and Afroza Khanam Rita take the oath. They all have received calls from the cabinet division to attend the swearing-in.

Kayser Kamal has received a call to take oath as a state minister. He was elected from the Netrokona-1 (Kalmakanda–Durgapur) constituency and has been elected to Parliament for the first time.

Contacted around 1:15 pm, he told Prothom Alo, “I received a call at about 10:30 this morning to take oath as State Minister for Land. I want to repay the trust the party has placed in me through my work. I seek everyone’s prayers.”

Farzana Sharmin, Member of Parliament from the Natore-1 constituency, has received an invitation to take oath as a state minister. She was elected from Natore-1 (Lalpur–Bagatipara) as a candidate of the BNP.

Dipen Dewan, elected from Rangamati on the nomination of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the 13th national parliamentary election, has received a call from the cabinet division, according to a close source.

This is his first term as a member of parliament. He is set to be inducted into the cabinet as well.

The following leaders have, so far, received calls to take oath as ministers in the new cabinet: Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, Major (retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Md Zahid Hossain, Abdul Awal Mintoo, Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain Kaikobad, Mizanur Rahman Minu, Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Ariful Haque Choudhury, Zahir Uddin Swapon, Afroza Khanam Rita, Asadul Habib Dulu, Md Asaduzzaman, Zakaria Taher, Dipen Dewan, ANM Ehshanul Hoque Milon, Mohammad Amin ur Rashid, Khalilur Rahman.

Among them, Mohammad Amin ur Rashid and Khalilur Rahman are set to take oath as technocrat ministers.

The swearing-in ceremony of the new Cabinet is scheduled to take place this Tuesday afternoon.

Brahmanbaria-6 (Bancharampur) MP Zonayed Saki, the chief coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolan, has received a call from the cabinet division to take oath as a state minister.

Lakshmipur-3 (Sadar upazila) MP Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee, BNP joint secretary general, has received a call from the cabinet division to join as a cabinet member.

This is the third time Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee has been elected as an MP. Earlier, he served as an MP from the same constituency in 2001 and 2008.

Young politician Anindya Islam (Amit) is set to join the cabinet as a state minister.

His media wing coordinator, Sujayet Suman, confirmed that “Anindya Islam Amit has received a phone call to take oath as a state minister. The specific ministry has not yet been confirmed.”

Anindya Islam is the younger son of the late BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) standing committee member and former minister Tariqul Islam, and BNP vice-chairman professor Nargis Begum.

Having grown up in a political family, he currently holds significant organisational responsibilities within the party, serving as acting organising secretary for the Khulna division of the BNP.

Those invited to take oath as full ministers include:

1. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir

2. Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury

3. Salahuddin Ahmed

4. Iqbal Hasan Mahmud (Tuku)

5. Major (retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed

6. AZM Zahid Hossain

7. Khalilur Rahman (technocrat), former security adviser to the interim government

8. Abdul Awal Mintoo

9. Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain Kaikobad

10. Mizanur Rahman Minu

11. Nitai Roy Chowdhury

12. Khandaker Abdul Muktadir

13. Ariful Haque Choudhhury

14. Zahir Uddin Swapon

15. Mohammad Amin ur Rashid (technocrat)

16. Afroza Khanam (Rita)

17. Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee

18. Asadul Habib Dulu

19. Md Asaduzzaman

20. Zakaria Taher

21. Dipen Dewan

22. ANM Ehshanul Hoque Milon

23. Sardar Sakhawat Hossain (Bakul)

24. Fakir Mahbub Anam (Swapan)

25. Sheikh Rabiul Alam

In total, 24 leaders are set to be sworn in as state ministers. They are:

1. M Rashiduzzaman Millat

2. Anindya Islam Amit

3. Md Shariful Alam

4. Shama Obaed Islam

5. Sultan Salahuddin Tuku

6. Kaiser Kamal

7. Farhad Hossain Azad

8. Aminul Haque (technocrat)

9. Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin

10. Habibur Rashid

11. Md Rajib Ahsan

12. Md Abdul Bari

13. Mir Shahe Alam

14. Junaid Saki

15. Ishraq Hossain

16. Farzana Sharmin

17. Sheikh Faridul Islam

18. Nurul Haque

19. Yaser Khan Chowdhury

20. Iqbal Hossain

21. MA Muhit

22. Ahmed Sohel Manzur

23. Bobby Hajjaj

24. Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam

The leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which secured a decisive victory in the 13th national parliamentary election, took their oaths as members of parliament on Tuesday morning.

The members of the new cabinet are scheduled to be sworn in this afternoon at the South Plaza of the national parliament.

In total, 25 full ministers and 24 state ministers will take oath. Under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, a 50-member cabinet is being formed.

At the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad, leaders and activists of various BNP affiliated organisations, along with people from different professions, have gathered from across the country, including the capital Dhaka, for the ministerial oath-taking ceremony.

Around 2:30 pm today, BNP supporters were seen gathering on Manik Mia Avenue with slogans from different locations. Meanwhile, people from various walks of life also joined.

Several digital displays and sound boxes have been set up on the Manik Mia Avenue road to watch the oath ceremony. At the other end of the road, a stage has been arranged for cultural programs.

Nur Jahan Begum, who came from Mohammadpur in Dhaka to watch the ceremony, told Prothom Alo, “We voted to make BNP victorious. BNP will take the oath of government today, so we came to watch. I hope BNP will do the work we expect, consider the people’s voice, and build a beautiful country.”

Shariful Islam, who came from Manikganj, said, “We are very happy today that the BNP government is taking oath. We believe our leader Tarique Rahman will take Bangladesh far ahead.”

From 2001 to 2006, the BNP was in government. After 20 years, the party has won the 13th parliament election and formed the government. The BNP cabinet includes 50 members: 25 ministers and 24 state ministers, with three technocrats.

This cabinet has many new faces, including leaders who have never been ministers or state ministers before. Some have secured a place in the cabinet on their first election.

Among the 25 ministers, 17 are new faces. All 24 state ministers are new. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is also a cabinet member for the first time.

Tarique Rahman, AZM Zahid Hossain, Khalilur Rahman (technocrat), Abdul Awal Mintoo, Mizanur Rahman Minu, Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Ariful Haque Choudhury, Zahir Uddin Swapon, Mohammad Amin ur Rashid (technocrat), Afroza Khanam (Rita), Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee, Md Asaduzzaman, Zakaria Taher Suman, Dipen Dewan, Fakir Mahbub Anam (Swapan), Sardar Sakhawat Hossain (Bakul), Sheikh Rabiul Alam

M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Anindya Islam Amit, Md Shariful Alam, Shama Obaed Islam, Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, Kaiser Kamal, Farhad Hossain Azad, Aminul Haque (technocrat), Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, Habibur Rashid, Md Rajib Ahsan, Md Abdul Bari, Mir Shahe Alam, Junaid Saki, Ishraq Hossain, Farzana Sharmin, Sheikh Faridul Islam, Nurul Haque, Yaser Khan Chowdhury, Iqbal Hossain, MA Muhit, Ahmed Sohel Manzur, Bobby Hajjaj, Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has taken oath as Prime Minister. Today, earlier, President Md Sahabuddin administered the oath. The ceremony took place at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

After Tarique Rahman took oath as Prime Minister, the other members of the cabinet took their oath. The oath was administered by President Md Sahabuddin.

Cabinet members including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud (Tuku), Major (retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, and others took their oath.

President Md Sahabuddin administered the oath to the state ministers as members of the new cabinet. Earlier, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman took oath as the Prime Minister of the new government. The ministers then took their oath.

President Md Sahabuddin administered the oath to all of them separately. Today, Tuesday, the cabinet oath-taking ceremony was held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

With this, the journey of the new government under the leadership of Tarique Rahman has begun. After nearly two decades, the BNP-led government has also started its journey.

In the national election held last Thursday, BNP won 209 seats. Allies of the BNP coalition won 3 seats.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has taken oath as Prime Minister. Following his oath, first the ministers and then the state ministers of the new government took their oath. Today, Thursday afternoon, President Md Sahabuddin administered their oath at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

With this, the journey of the new government under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has begun. At the same time, after nearly two decades, the BNP-led government has started its journey.

In the national election held last Thursday, BNP won 209 seats. Allies of the BNP coalition won 3 seats.

News agency BSS reports: Breaking with a long-standing tradition in the Bangladesh history, the swearing-in ceremony of the new government was held at the South Plaza of the Parliament Complex instead of Bangabhaban, the Presidential palace.

Diplomatic sources said the leaders of different countries including President of the Maldives Dr Mohamed Muizzu, Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Indian Lok Sabha (parliament) Speaker Om Birla, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, among others, attended the ceremony.

Besides, guests present at the jam-packed glittering South Plaza of Bangladesh Parliament Complex included: Chief Justice, outgoing Chief adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and his council of advisers of the interim government, Chief Election Commissioner, Judges of the Supreme Court, MPs, political leaders, chiefs of the three services, members of diplomatic corps, senior journalists, and high civil and military officials.

Tarique Rahman’s spouse Zubaida Rahman and their daughter Zaima Rahman and other family members were present at the function.

Clad in black-suit with stripe and white shirt Tarique Rahman was looking very confident and lively at the South Plaza gathering. The historic venue was overflowing with about 1200 invited guests, while many of them were seen standing there also.

New Prime Minister as the Head of the Government was given a standing ovation when he entered the place of oath-taking ceremony.

Minutes later President Shahabuddin entered the venue where the Prime Minister took oath at 4.00 pm.

The ceremony began with the recitation from the holy Quran.

Tarique Rahman took oath first pledging to preserve, protect and defend the national constitution and the state sovereignty.

After the swearing-in, Tarique Rahman signed the oath of office and oath of secrecy.

The 25 ministers are: Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Amir Khoshru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, Maj (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram, Abu Jafar Md Zahid Hossain, Khalilur Rahman (technocrat), Abdul Awal Mintoo, Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad, Mizanur Rahman Minu, Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, Zahir Uddin Swapon, Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid (technocrat), Afroza Khanam Rita, Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, Asadul Habib Dulu, Md Asaduzzaman, Zakaria Taher, Dipen Dewan, ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon, Sarder Md Sakhawat Hossain, Fakir Mahbub Anam, and Sheikh Rabiul Alam.

The 24 state ministers are-M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Anindya Islam Amit, Md Shariful Alam, Shama Obaed Islam, Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, Barrister Kaiser Kamal, Farhad Hossain Azad, Md Aminul Haq (technocrat), Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, Habibur Rashid, Md Rajib Ahsan, Md Abdul Bari, Mir Shahe Alam, Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki, widely known as Zonayed Saki, Ishraque Hossain, Farzana Sharmin, Shaikh Faridul Islam, Nurul Haque Nur, Yasser Khan Chowdhury, M Iqbal Hossain, MA Muhith, Ahammad Sohel Manjur, Bobby Hajjaj and Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has visited his parents’ graves. Today Tuesday, after taking oath as Prime Minister, he went to Zia Udyan. There he visited the graves of his father, martyred President Ziaur Rahman, and mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

At that time, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was accompanied by his wife Zubaida Rahman, daughter Zaima Rahman and other relatives. The information was shared on BNP’s verified Facebook page.