Dhaka, Feb 18 (.) The Bangladesh Cabinet Division has issued a gazette notification allocating portfolios to ministers and state ministers under the leadership of BNP Chairman and the newly-elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
Rahman was sworn in as premier for the first time on Tuesday, as a cabinet comprising 25 ministers and 24 state ministers was formed.
According to the notification, signed by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani, the prime minister will retain direct oversight of the Cabinet Division, the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces Division, consolidating control over key administrative and security institutions at the outset of his tenure.
Among senior appointments, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been named minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, while Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury will oversee both the Finance Ministry and the Ministry of Planning.
Salahuddin Ahmed has been appointed minister for Home Affairs, placing him in charge of internal security and law enforcement.
The energy portfolio has been assigned to Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, who will head the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources. Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, a retired major, will lead Liberation War Affairs, while AZM Zahid Hossain has been placed in charge of Women and Children Affairs as well as Social Welfare.
Technocrat Khalilur Rahman will head the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signalling an emphasis on professional diplomatic management, while Abdul Awal Mintoo will oversee Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Religious Affairs has been entrusted to Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad, Land to Mizanur Rahman Minu, and Cultural Affairs to Nitai Roy Chowdhury.
Commerce, Industries, Jute and Textile will be led by Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, while Ariful Haque Chowdhury has been assigned Labour and Employment alongside Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment. Zahir Uddin Swapon will head Information and Broadcasting, and technocrat Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid has been given responsibility for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
In infrastructure and sectoral ministries, Afroza Khanam Rita will oversee Civil Aviation and Tourism, Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee Water Resources, and Asadul Habib Dulu Disaster Management and Relief. Md Asaduzzaman has been appointed to Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, while Zakaria Taher will oversee Housing and Public Works.
Regional and social portfolios include Dipen Dewan in charge of Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs, ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon for Education, and Sarder Md Sakhawat Hossain for Health and Family Welfare. Fakir Mahbub Anam will oversee Post and Telecommunications alongside Science and ICT, while Sheikh Rabiul Alam has been assigned Road Transport, Railways and Shipping.
Alongside the full ministers, 24 state ministers have also been allocated portfolios to assist in key sectors. M Rashiduzzaman Millat will serve in Civil Aviation, Anindya Islam Amit in Power and Energy, and Shariful Alam in Commerce, Industries, Textile and Jute.
Shama Obaed Islam has been assigned Foreign Affairs, Sultan Salahuddin Tuku Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and Kaiser Kamal Land. Farhad Hossain Azad will assist in Water Resources, while technocrat Md Aminul Haq has been given Youth and Sports.
Further appointments include Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin in Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs, Md Abdul Bari in Public Administration, and Mir Shahe Alam in Local Government. Zonayed Saki will serve in Finance and Planning, Ishraque Hossain in Liberation War Affairs, and Farzana Sharmin in Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare.
Shaikh Faridul Islam will assist in Environment, Religious Affairs and Law, while Nurul Haque Nur has been assigned Labour and Expatriate Welfare. Yasser Khan Chowdhury will serve in Information, M Iqbal Hossain in Disaster Management, and MA Muhith in Health, Post and Telecommunications, and Science and ICT.
Additional state ministers include Ahammad Sohel Manjur in Housing and Public Works, Bobby Hajjaj in Education and Primary and Mass Education, and Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam in Cultural Affairs. Habibur Rashid Habib and Rajib Ahsan will assist in Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping.
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