Interim govt's council of advisers expands today

The Advisory Council of the interim government will expand again as several new advisers are set to take oath today (10 November).

President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath at a swearing-in ceremony at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban at around 7pm, in presence of senior government officials and dignitaries, according to government sources.

ATM Kowser Hossain, the director (road) of the Department of Government Transport, told The Business Standard that the Cabinet Division has requisitioned five vehicles. "We have five vehicles ready. However, we don't know how many advisers will be sworn in.

"Usually, one or two extra vehicles are requisitioned in case any vehicle faces mechanical issues."

The vehicles will be sent to the new advisers' homes to pick them up, and then they will be brought to Bangabhaban for the oath-taking ceremony, said sources.

However, the identities of the new advisers could not be known immediately.

"Yes, it's getting expanded. But I can't tell you the number at this moment," a senior official of the interim government told UNB.

At present, the government, which is now in its fourth month, led by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has 21 advisers, including Yunus. Most of the advisers are currently executing the responsibilities of multiple ministries.

Currently, three advisers are responsible for three ministries each, while 10 advisers oversee two ministries each.

The interim government took charge on 8 August, three days after the Awami League government was ousted in a nationwide mass upsurge led by students.

Back in October, sources at the secretariat had said that the council of advisers would likely induct some new faces soon to speed up administrative activities. The distribution of ministries and departments may also see a reshuffle.

Officials said discussions were ongoing regarding the addition of three or four new faces who have previous experience working in the respective ministries and departments, reported UNB.

There are allegations of noncooperation from the secretaries, department heads and officials of the administration appointed during the Awami League regime to the interim government, resulting in a slow pace of work.

After appointing new advisers, the speed of administrative work and monitoring within each ministry will gather speed, the authorities concerned hoped.

According to sources, the ministries under discussion for new advisers include the ministries of commerce, health, road transport and bridges, railways, education, planning, agriculture, food, civil aviation and tourism.

There are 58 ministries and departments under the government. The Awami League-led last cabinet was formed by 45 full ministers, state and deputy ministers.

In the previous cabinet of the 11th parliament, the number of the cabinet was 47. During Fakhruddin Ahmed's caretaker government, the number of advisers was 16.

The portfolios

The ministries under Yunus include the Cabinet Division, Ministry of Defense, Armed Forces Division, Ministry of Food, Ministry of Public Administration, and Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.

Salehuddin Ahmed oversees the ministries of finance, commerce, and science and technology. Prof Asif Nazrul handles the ministries of law, justice and parliamentary affairs; expatriates' welfare and overseas employment; and culture.

Other advisers include Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury for the ministries of home affairs and agriculture, Wahiduddin Mahmud for the planning and education ministries and several others overseeing various ministries.

AF Hassan Ariff has been entrusted with ministries of land; and local government, rural development and cooperatives, Adilur Rahman Khan with ministries of industry; and housing and public works.

Ali Imam Majumdar has been attached to the office of the chief adviser.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan has been performing duties at ministries of environment, forest and climate change; and water resources.

Though Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain was assigned to the home ministry, later he was shifted to the ministries of textiles and jute; and shipping. Md Touhid Hossain is handling the ministry of foreign affairs.

Along with those, the other advisers are tasked with enhancing the operational efficiency and responsiveness of their respective ministries in the current interim government.