Dhaka, February 17 – In a historic moment for Bangladesh politics, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarik Rahman took oath as the country’s Prime Minister on Tuesday evening. This marks the return of a male leader to the top executive post after several years dominated by female leadership.
The swearing-in ceremony, held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament, saw President Mohammed Shahabuddin administering the oath to Rahman around 4:15 PM. Rahman immediately unveiled a expansive 49-member cabinet, comprising 25 full ministers and 24 ministers of state, signaling a broad-based government aimed at national unity.
Key appointments include Dr. Khalilur Rahman as Foreign Minister, Shama Obaid as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amir Khasru Mahmud as Finance and Planning Minister, Salauddin Ahmed as Home Minister, Abdul Awal Mintu as Environment and Forests Minister, and Khandaker Abdul Muktadir as Commerce Minister.
The full list of cabinet ministers features prominent BNP figures such as Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Hafizuddin Ahmed Bir Bikram, Abu Zafar MD Jahid Hossain, and others including Kazi Shah Moefizul Hossain Kaikobad, Mizanur Rahman Minu, Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Ariful Haq Chowdhury, Zaheer Uddin Swapn, Afroza Khanam Rita, MD Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Ani, Asadul Habib Dulu, MD Asaduzzaman, Zakaria Tahir, Dipen Dewan, ANM Ehsanul Haq Milan, Sardar MD Sakawat Hossain, Fakir Mahbub Anam, Sheikh Robiul Alam, Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid, and Khalilur Rahman.
Among the 24 ministers of state are M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Anindya Islam Amit, MD Shariful Alam, Shama Obaid Islam, Sultan Salauddin Tuku, Barrister Kaiser Kamal, Farhad Hossain Azad, MD Aminul Haq (technocrat), Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, Habib ur Rashid, MD Rajib Ahsan, MD Abdul Bari, Mir Shah-e-Alam, Junaid Abdur Rahim Saki (known as Junaid Saki), Ishraq Hossain, Farzana Sharmin, Sheikh Faridul Islam, Nurul Haq Nur, Yaser Khan Chowdhury, M Iqbal Hossain, MA Muhith, Ahmad Sohail Manzoor, Bobby Hajjaj, and Ali Nawaz Mahmud Khayyam.
This new cabinet formation comes at a critical juncture for Bangladesh, with the nation facing economic challenges, political transitions, and regional geopolitical shifts. Analysts view Rahman’s leadership and inclusive cabinet as a strategic move to consolidate power and address pressing domestic issues. The government has pledged swift action on economic recovery, law and order, and foreign relations, setting the stage for a transformative tenure.