Tarique Rahman Sworn In as Prime Minister, Forms 49-Member Cabinet

Tarique Rahman, Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and elder son of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and late Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, took oath today as the country’s 11th Prime Minister. He formed a 49-member cabinet comprising 25 full ministers and 24 state ministers.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office and secrecy at 4:00 pm at the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, breaking tradition as this was the first time a swearing-in ceremony was held at the Parliament’s South Plaza instead of Bangabhaban.

Tarique Rahman retained five key ministries under his direct control: Defence, Public Administration, Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Science and Technology, and Youth and Sports. The full ministers include Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir (Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives), Amir Khoshru Mahmud Chowdhury (Finance and Planning), Salahuddin Ahmed (Home), Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku (Power and Energy), Maj (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed (Liberation War Affairs), Abu Jafar Md Zahid Hossain, Dr Khalilur Rahman (technocrat), Abdul Awal Mintoo (Environment), Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad, Mizanur Rahman Minu (Land), Nitai Roy Chowdhury (Cultural Affairs), Khandaker Abdul Muktadir (Foreign), Ariful Haque Chowdhury (Expatriates’ Welfare), Zahir Uddin Swapon (Information and Broadcasting), Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid (technocrat), Afroza Khanam Rita (Civil Aviation and Tourism), Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie (Water Resources), Asadul Habib Dulu (Disaster Management), Md Asaduzzaman, Zakaria Taher Sumon (Housing and Public Works), Dipen Dewan (Chittagong Hill Tracts), ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon (Education), Sarder Md Sakhawat Hossain (Health), Fakir Mahbub Anam, and Sheikh Rabiul Alam (Roads and Bridges).

The 24 state ministers include M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Anindya Islam Amit, Md Shariful Alam, Shama Obaed Islam, Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, Barrister Kaiser Kamal, Farhad Hossain Azad, Md Aminul Haq (technocrat), Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, Habibur Rashid, Md Rajib Ahsan, Md Abdul Bari, Mir Shahe Alam, Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki, Ishraque Hossain, Farzana Sharmin, Shaikh Faridul Islam, Nurul Haque Nur, Yasser Khan Chowdhury, M Iqbal Hossain, MA Muhith, Ahammad Sohel Manjur, Bobby Hajjaj, and Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam.

The ceremony was attended by over 1,200 guests, including foreign dignitaries, diplomats, Chief Justice, outgoing Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, council of advisers, Chief Election Commissioner, Supreme Court judges, MPs, political leaders, service chiefs, and senior officials. Tarique Rahman’s spouse Dr. Zubaida Rahman, daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman, and other family members were present. The event began with Quran recitation, and Tarique Rahman took the oath first, pledging to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and state sovereignty. Cabinet Secretary Dr Nasimul Gani conducted the ceremony.

The 13th Jatiya Sangsad election was held on February 12, with BNP winning 209 seats, Jamaat-e-Islami 68, and other parties and independents the rest. The new government reflects a blend of experienced senior leaders and younger faces.