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Cabinet Expansion: Four New Faces Likely to Take Oath Today
Four new faces are likely to join Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s cabinet this evening as the government prepares to expand the council of ministers.
According to sources, BNP Standing Committee member and Narsingdi-2 MP Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Bangladesh National Party (BJP) Chairman and Bhola-1 MP Andaleeve Rahman Partho, Bandarban MP Saching Prue Jerry and Gaibandha-4 MP Mohammad Shamim Kaiser Lincoln are likely to be inducted.
Moyeen Khan, Partho and Saching Prue are expected to take oath as ministers, while Shamim Kaiser may be appointed as a state minister.
Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani confirmed that new cabinet members could take oath on Friday, although he did not specify how many would be inducted or name them.
A Bangabhaban official also said several new faces could take oath in the evening.
The oath-taking ceremony is expected to take place at Bangabhaban after newly elected President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir assumes office.
Fakhrul is scheduled to take oath as Bangladesh’s 23rd President at 7:30pm in the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban. Acting Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal will administer the presidential oath.
After taking office, President Fakhrul is expected to administer the oath to the newly appointed ministers.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, cabinet members and more than 1,200 invited guests are expected to attend the ceremonies.
The cabinet expansion is also expected to involve changes in several ministerial portfolios.
Tarique Rahman took oath as prime minister on February 17 following the BNP’s victory in the February 12 parliamentary election. On the same day, 25 ministers and 24 state ministers were sworn in.
The cabinet has since seen changes, including the resignation of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Dipen Dewan on June 1 on health grounds.
The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives will also become vacant following Fakhrul’s election as President, as he had been serving as the minister in charge of the portfolio.