Tarique Rahman Sworn In as Prime Minister, BNP Returns to Power After 20 Years

Dhaka, 17 February, Tuesday:

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Tuesday afternoon. President Mohammad Shahabuddin administered the oath at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. After the ceremony, the President and the new Prime Minister exchanged greetings.

Following the Prime Minister’s oath, members of the new cabinet were also sworn in by the President. The cabinet has 50 members, including 25 full ministers, 24 state ministers and three technocrats. Senior BNP leaders, including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku and Hafiz Uddin Ahmed took oath as members of the cabinet.

A large number of new faces have been included in the cabinet. Of the 25 full ministers, 17 are serving for the first time. Most of the state ministers are also first-timers. Tarique Rahman is becoming a member of the cabinet for the first time as Prime Minister.

The BNP won 209 seats in the 13th National Parliamentary Election held last Thursday, while its alliance partners secured three seats. Earlier in the day, the elected members of parliament took oath. The BNP last formed the government from 2001 to 2006. With Tuesday’s ceremony, the party returned to power after nearly two decades.

Thousands of supporters gathered on Manik Mia Avenue to watch the swearing-in ceremony on digital screens. Supporters expressed hope that the new government under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would work for the country’s development and fulfill its promises.

List of Ministers and Sate-ministers are

Full Ministers

1. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir

2. Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury

3. Salahuddin Ahmed

4. Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku

5. Hafiz Uddin Ahmed

6. AZM Zahid Hossain

7. Khalilur Rahman (Technocrat)

8. Abdul Awal Mintoo

9. Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaykobad

10. Mizanur Rahman Minu

11. Nitai Roy Chowdhury

12. Khandaker Abdul Muktadir

13. Ariful Haque Chowdhury

14. Zahir Uddin Swapan

15. Mohammad Amin ur Rashid (Technocrat)

16. Afroza Khanam Rita

17. Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie

18. Asadul Habib Dulu

19. Md. Asaduzzaman

20. Zakaria Taher

21. Dipen Dewan

22. ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon

23. Sardar Sakhawat Hossain Bakul

24. Fakir Mahbub Anam Swapan

25. Sheikh Rabiul Alam

State Ministers

1. M Rashiduzzaman Millat

2. Anindya Islam Amit

3. Md. Shariful Alam

4. Shama Obaed Islam

5. Sultan Salahuddin Tuku

6. Kaiser Kamal

7. Farhad Hossain Azad

8. Aminul Haque (Technocrat)

9. Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin

10. Habibur Rashid

11. Md. Rajib Ahsan

12. Md. Abdul Bari

13. Mir Shahe Alam

14. Jonayed Saki

15. Ishraque Hossain

16. Farzana Sharmin

17. Sheikh Faridul Islam

18. Nurul Haque

19. Yaser Khan Chowdhury

20. Iqbal Hossain

21. MA Muhith

22. Ahmed Sohel Manjur

23. Bobby Hajjaj

24. Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam