Bangladesh restarts
The country is back on democratic course as Tarique Rahman, sworn in as prime minister after his party won a landslide in the 13th parliamentary elections, will lead a cabinet team comprising 25 ministers and 24 state ministers.
Bangladesh turns a new page in history as BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman took the oath as the country's 11th prime minister today (17 February), with the swearing-in of the new cabinet following his party's sweeping victory in the 13th national election.
The election came 18 months after the student-led July Uprising toppled the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League regime and the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government took over, raising hope for state reforms and good governance.
With the swearing-in of the newly elected government, the country has returned to the path of democracy.
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President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oaths at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban around 4pm today.
Besides taking the oath of prime minister, Tarique also took the oath of secrecy. After the swearing-in, he signed the oath of office and oath of secrecy.
Fifty members of the new cabinet, including the prime minister, 25 ministers and 24 state ministers, were sworn in today. In 2001, the last time the BNP formed a government, a 46-member cabinet was sworn in.
Tarique's cabinet includes several new and old faces.
The ministers of the new cabinet are: Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Hafizuddin Ahmed, AZM Zahid, Khalilur Rahman (technocrat), Abdul Awal Mintoo, Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad, Mizanur Rahman Minu, Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, Zahir Uddin Swapan, Aminur Rashid Yasin (technocrat), Afroza Khanam Rita, Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee, Asadul Habib Dulu, Asaduzzaman Asad, Zakaria Taher, Dipen Dewan, Ehsanul Haque Milon, Sardar Shakhawat Hossain Bakul, Fokir Mahbub Anam and Sheikh Robiul Alam.
The state ministers of the new cabinet are: Rashiduzzaman Millat, Anind Islam Amit, Shariful Alam, Shama Obaed Islam, Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, Kaiser Kamal, Farhad Hossain Azad, Aminul Haque (technocrat), Md Helal Uddin, Habibur Rashid, Rajib Ahsan, Md Abdul Bari, Mir Shahe Alam, Zonayed Saki, Ishraque Hossain, Farzana Sharmin, Faridul Islam, Nurul Haque Nur, Yeasir Khan Chowdhury, M Iqbal Hossain, MA Muhit, Ahammed Sohel Manjur, Boby Hajjaj and Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam.
Breaking with a long-standing tradition in the Bangladesh history, the swearing-in ceremony of the new government was held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban instead of Bangabhaban, the presidential palace.
Diplomatic sources said the leaders of different countries including President of the Maldives Mohamed Muizzu, Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Indian Lok Sabha (parliament) Speaker Om Birla, Pakistan's Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, Nepal's Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma, Sri Lanka's Minister of Health and Mass Media Nalinda Jayatissa, among others, attended the ceremony.
Besides, guests present at the jam-packed glittering South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban included outgoing chief adviser Muhammad Yunus and his council of advisers of the interim government, as well as the chief justice, the chief election commissioner, judges of the Supreme Court, MPs, political leaders, chiefs of the three services, members of diplomatic corps, senior journalists, and high civil and military officials.
Tarique Rahman's spouse Dr Zubaida Rahman and their daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman and other family members were present at the function.
Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani conducted the oath-taking ceremony.
Tarique, the eldest son of former president Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, returned home to a hero's welcome on 25 December last year after nearly 18 years in exile in the United Kingdom.
Within less than two months, he steered his party to victory in the 13th National Parliamentary Election on 12 February. The BNP secured an absolute majority by winning 209 seats.
Jamaat-e-Islami, the BNP's former ally, won 68 seats and is set to sit in the opposition, while the remaining seats were won by other parties and independent candidates.
Earlier today, the newly elected members of parliament were sworn in by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at the Oath Room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, marking the start of the new parliamentary term.
