Tarique Rahman Enlarges Cabinet, Inducts Six New Members

Bangla Press Desk:  Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expands his six-month-old cabinet with the induction of five new ministers and one elevation.

The four new ministers and two state ministers were sworn in on Friday evening, shortly the oath of the newly elected President.

Of the four newly appointed ministers, one had previously served as a state minister, while two new state ministers were also sworn in.

BNP Standing Committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) Chairman Andaleeve Rahman Partha, Civil Aviation and Tourism State Minister Rashiduzzaman Millat and parliamentarian Saching Prue Jerry became ministers. Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser, Humayun Kabir, and parliamentarian Mohammad Shamim Kaiser Lincoln took oath as ministers of state.

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers and state ministers at Bangabhaban on Friday evening, shortly after he took oath as the 23rd President of Bangladesh.

As part of a maiden cabinet reshuffle and portfolio distribution, Moyeen Khan, one of BNP's senior leaders, is given the charge of the Local Government Ministry, which was previously held by Mirza Fakhrul.

Andaleeve Rahman Partha is given charge of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan became adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Rashiduzzaman Millat is elevated to Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism while Afroza Khanam Rita reassigned as food minister.

Saching Prue Jerry is given the portfolio of Chattagram Hill Tracts Affairs.

Humayun Kabir is appointed state minister for foreign affairs while Shamim Kaiser Lincoln takes the charge of Religious Affairs Ministry.