Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Seven lawmakers of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance took oath as ministers and state ministers at Bangabhaban in the capital Dhaka Thursday afternoon.
Of them, Awami League leader Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haque Inu, Whip Mujibul Haque, AL lawmakers Mostafa Faruque Mohammad of Jessore-2 constituency and A H Mahmood Ali of Dinajpur-4 are made ministers.
Awami League lawmakers Omor Faruk Chowdhury of Rajshahi-1 constituency and Abdul Hyee of Jhenidah-1 took oath as state ministers. Mujibul Haque given portfolio of Railway Minister
Earlier, Awami League leader Tofail Ahmed and President of Workers Party of Bangladesh Rashed Khan Menon have decided not to join the cabinet.
President Zillur Rahman administered the oath at 3:20pm in the presence of the prime minister at his official residence Bangabhaban.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Deputy Leader of Parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Environment Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Telecommunications Minister Rajiuddin Razu, Prime Minister’s Economic
Affairs Adviser Mashiur Rahman and PM’s International Affairs Adviser Gowher Rizvi were present at the swearing-in ceremony, conducted by
Cabinet Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan.
With the latest additions, the number of the cabinet has now increased to 51 from 45.
Talking to the reporters, newly sworn-in Minister Mahiuddin Khan Alamgir said: “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has relied on us. We all will give our best to keep her faith.”
Asked about his feeling of becoming Minister with only about a year left for the Awami League-led government, he said: “It’s not a tough challenge at all; the responsibility is serious though.”
Another new Minister Hasanul Haque Inu told the reporters, “I’ve accepted the offer for political reasons only. I’ve joined the grand alliance four years back during the national election as part of the mission to eradicate communality and militancy.”
“And now, I’ve taken the offer to be a minister to fulfill the unfinished mission,” he said.
This is the third expansion of the cabinet. The premier last expanded her cabinet on November 28, 2011 by incorporating Suranjit Sengupta, now minister without portfolio, and Obaidul Quader, minister for communications and railways.
After the AL's landslide victory in 2008 parliamentary election, Sheikh Hasina formed her cabinet with 31 members — 23 ministers and eight state ministers.
On January 24, 2009, she included six more fresh faces — a minister and five state ministers — in the council of ministers and reshuffled 10 portfolios.
BBN/SSR/AD-13Sept12-9:46 pm (BST)
