Cabinet expands as new ministers receive portfolios

Four new faces joined Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s Cabinet as ministers on Friday, while two others were sworn in as state ministers and received their respective portfolios later that night.

On Friday night (August 21), the Cabinet Division issued a notification allocating and redistributing their portfolios with immediate effect.

BNP Standing Committee member and Narsingdi-2 MP Abdul Moyeen Khan has been appointed Minister for the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives.

Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) Chairman and Bhola-1 MP Barrister Andaleeve Rahman Partho has been given responsibility for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Bandarban MP Saching Prue Jerry has been appointed Minister for the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs.

Rashiduzzaman Millat has been appointed Minister for the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.

Afroza Khanam, previously Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister, was appointed as Food Minister.

Besides, Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir was appointed as State Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Gaibandha-4 lawmaker Mohammad Shamim Kaiser Lincoln was appointed State Minister for Religious Affairs.

Newly elected President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir administered their oaths at 7:45pm at the Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban.

The oath-taking ceremony was conducted by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani.

Tarique Rahman took oath as prime minister on February 17 following the victory of his party in the February 12 election.

Tarique Rahman formed the incumbent government with a 49‑member cabinet, including himself as 25 other ministers and 23 state ministers took oath on the same day.

With the induction of five new faces, the number of cabinet members now stands at 52, which include 27 ministers and 24 state ministers.