State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir will oversee bilateral and multilateral affairs, while State Minister Shama Obaed Islam will handle human rights, climate change and a range of other specialised areas under a new division of responsibilities at the Foreign Ministry.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a circular on Sunday outlining the responsibilities of the two state ministers, who will assist Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman in carrying out their respective assignments under his direction and supervision.

According to the circular, Humaiun, designated State Minister-1, will be responsible for bilateral and multilateral affairs, matters concerning non-resident Bangladeshis and any other issues assigned by the foreign minister.

Shama, designated State Minister-2, will oversee matters related to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, human rights, research and innovation, environment and climate change, creative economy, LDC graduation, ICT, law of the sea and marine resources, global health diplomacy, and cultural and sports diplomacy.

The circular said the division of responsibilities had received the prime minister’s approval.

The BNP government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, was formed on February 17 after the party won the 13th parliamentary election. Khalilur Rahman, the outgoing interim government’s national security adviser, was appointed foreign minister, while Shama, a member of the BNP’s International Affairs Committee, was initially appointed state minister for foreign affairs.

Humaiun was later appointed the prime minister’s adviser on foreign affairs.

On Friday, five new ministers and state ministers were sworn in, with Humaiun subsequently being given charge as state minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.