Bangladesh's Prime Minister-designate Sheikh Hasina has invited some 25 party MPs to become Cabinet Ministers and 11 as State Ministers in her new ministry, while dropping many of her old colleagues and bringing in several new faces, it was announced on Wednesday
The new cabinet of Sheikh Hasina, following her Awami League securing its fourth straight term in the January 7 elections, will be sworn-in by President Mohammed Shahabuddin at the Bangabhaban here on Thursday evening.
At a briefing on Wednesday, Cabinet Division Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain said the new cabinet will comprise of 25 ministers, and there will be 11 state ministers and deputy ministers.
After the sworn-in ceremony, the Prime Minister will distribute the portfolios among the ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers of the new cabinet.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is retaining some trusted associates, including some AL heavyweights, but may change their portfolios.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said he received a phone call from the Cabinet Division on Wednesday evening.
"I was told to take the oath on Thursday,without mentioning any ministry,” he said. Local Government Minister Tajul Islam also said he received a similar call without confirmation on which ministry he would get.
Law Minister Anisul Huq, Education Minister Dipu Moni, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, and Information Minister Hasan Mahmud also said that they received calls for the swearing in.
There were speculations that Salman F. Rahman, the Prime Minister’s advisor on private industry and investment, may get a berth in the new cabinet, but he told bdnews24.com that he was not invited to join Hasina’s new council of ministers.
Jahangir Kabir Nanak, who had worked as the State Minister for Local Government in the 2009-2014 government but did not get a berth in the next government, also said that he had also received a call.
Obaidul Quader, A.K.M Mozammel Huq, Muhammad Faruk Khan, and Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali are among the new cabinet members who will be assigned to key ministries.
Awami League General Secretary Quader told IANS that he retained his berth as Road Transport and Bridges Minister.
Others who have been selected as ministers in the new cabinet are Md Abdus Shahid, Sadhan Chandra Mazumder, R.A.M. Ubaidul Muktadir Chowdhury, Md Abdur Rahman, Narayan Chandra Chanda, Abdus Salam, Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, Farhad Hossain, Md Faridul Huq Khan, Md Zillul Hakim, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Nazmul Hasan.
Yafesh Osman and Dr Samanta Lal Sen will be under the technocrat quota.
Those have been invited to take oath as state ministers are Simin Hossain Rimi, daughter of Tajuddin Ahmedm a close associate of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Nasrul Hamid, Junayed Ahmed Palak, Mohammad Ali Arafat, Md Mohibbur Rahman, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Zahid Faruque, Kujendra Lal Tripura, Begum Rumana Ali, Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury, and Ahsanul Islam Tito.
Despite having a woman CM, females in West Bengal most unsafe: JP Nadda
BJP national president J. P. Nadda on Sunday launched a blistering attack on the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, saying that despite having a woman chief minister, females in the state are most unsafe.
'Shehzada insulted Indian kings and emperors but forgot Aurangzeb's atrocities', PM Modi slams Rahul Gandhi
Coming down heavily on Rahul Gandhi over his recent remark that Rajas and Maharajas used to be "land grabbers", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the Congress leader of playing appeasement politics and forgetting the atrocities committed by the likes of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb who destroyed hundreds of temples.
Manipur: Gun battle breaks out among village volunteers of rival groups
Police said that several armed cadres of village volunteers opened indiscriminate fire on Koutruk village in the periphery of Imphal Valley from the adjoining hills in Kangpokpi district, and the armed village volunteers of rival ethnic groups retaliated.
'What has Didi done to Bengal', JP Nadda slams Mamata govt over Sandeshkhali issue
Launching a scathing attack against the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal, BJP National President J. P. Nadda said that everyone saw how "anti-social elements" in Trinamool Congress like Sheikh Shahjahan have become a "threat" to the women of Sandeshkhali.
SC to hear on Monday Bengal plea against Calcutta HC order axing 25,753 school jobs
The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Monday the plea filed by the West Bengal government against the Calcutta High Court's order cancelling 25,753 appointments in teaching and non-teaching posts made by the WBSSC in 2016.
CBI traces shop that sold bullets & cartridges seized from Sandeshkhali
The bills reportedly have Shahjahan’s name as the purchaser. The CBI is now trying to find out who went to the ammunition store to purchase the items.
Crew on seized cargo ship to be released soon, assures Iran Foreign Minister
The 16 remaining Indian crew members on board a cargo ship seized by Iran are set to be released soon, Iran Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian assured his Portuguese counterpart Paulo Rangel in a telephonic conversation on Saturday.
1,500 Sikhs join BJP ahead of Lok Sabha polls in Delhi, Punjab
In a significant development, 1,500 members from the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, along with Singh Sabha and other Sikh organisations, joined BJP on Saturday, just weeks ahead of Lok Sabha elections in Delhi and Punjab.