Tarique’s cabinet: A strategic mix of trusted veterans and new faces

After leading his party to a landslide, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Tarique Rahman has assembled a 50-member cabinet combining a striking number of new faces alongside seasoned leaders.

The new government, sworn in on Tuesday at the South Plaza of parliament, consists of 25 ministers and 24 state ministers, alongside Tarique as premier.

Observers note the cabinet reflects a deliberate mix of fresh talent, party veterans, and technocrats tasked with strategic roles.

The most notable surprise came with the appointment of Khalilur Rahman, a career diplomat.

Despite not being an MP or a BNP member, Khalilur, who had served as national security advisor until Tuesday afternoon, now assumes responsibility for managing Bangladesh’s global relations.

Among the veterans, Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was assigned the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, while Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury took the crucial roles at the finance and planning ministries.

Salahuddin Ahmed, a trusted aide of Tarique and former leader of the BNP’s negotiating team in the Election Commission, assumes the home ministry.

Ministers:

• Local government, rural development and cooperatives: Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir
• Finance, Planning: Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury
• Home affairs: Salahuddin Ahmed
• Power, energy and mineral resources: Iqbal Hasan Mahmud
• Liberation war affairs: Hafiz Uddin Ahmed
• Women and children affairs, Social welfare: AZM Zahid Hossain
• Foreign affairs: Khalilur Rahman (technocrat)
• Environment, forest and climate change: Abdul Awal Mintoo
• Religious affairs: Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain Kaikobad
• Land: Mizanur Rahman Minu
• Cultural affairs: Nitai Roy Chowdhury
• Commerce, Industries, Textiles and jute: Khandaker Abdul Moktadir
• Labour and employment, Expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment: Ariful Haque Chowdhury
• Information and broadcasting: Zahir Uddin Swapon
• Agriculture, Fisheries and livestock, food: Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid Yasin (technocrat)
• Civil aviation and tourism: Afroza Khanam (Rita)
• Water resources: Md Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee
• Disaster management and relief: Asadul Habib Dulu
• Law, justice and parliamentary affairs: Md Asaduzzaman
• Housing and public works: Zakaria Taher
• Chittagong hill tracts affairs: Dipen Dewan
• Education: ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon
• Health and family welfare: Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain
• Posts, telecommunications and information technology, Science and technology: Fakir Mahbub Anam
• Road transport and bridges, Railways, Shipping: Sheikh Rabiul Alam

State ministers:

• Civil aviation and tourism: M Rashiduzzaman Millat
• Power, energy and mineral resources: Aninda Islam Amit
• Commerce, Industries, Textiles and jute: Md Shariful Alam
• Foreign affairs: Shama Obaed Islam
• Agriculture, Fisheries and livestock, Food: Sultan Salauddin Tuku
• Land: Kayser Kamal
• Water resources: Forhad Hossain Azad
• Youth and sports: Md Aminul Haque (technocrat)
• Chittagong hill tracts affairs: Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin
• Road transport and Bbridges; Railways; Shipping: Habibur Rashid, Md Razib Ahsan
• Public administration: Md Abdul Bari
• Local government, rural development and cooperatives: Mir Shahe Alam
• Finance, Planning: Zonayed Saki
• Liberation war affairs: Ishraque Hossain
• Women and children affairs, Social welfare: Farzana Sharmin
• Environment, forest and climate change: Sheikh Faridul Islam
• Labour and employment, Expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment: Md Nurul Haque Nur
• Information and broadcasting: Yaser Khan Chowdhury
• Disaster management and relief: M Iqbal Hossain
• Health and family welfare: MA Muhit
• Housing and public works: Ahammad Sohel Monzoor
• Education, Primary and mass education: Bobby Hajjaj
• Cultural affairs: Ali Newaz Mahmood Khyom