United News of Bangladesh

Four new faces – BNP Standing Committee member and Narsingdi-2 lawmaker Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, BJP chairman and Bhola-1 MP Andaleeve Rahman Partho, Bandarban MP Saching Prue and State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Rashiduzzaman Millat-- were sworn in as new ministers on Friday. Besides, Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir and Gaibandha-4 lawmaker Mohammad Shamim Kaiser Lincoln were sworn in as new state ministers. New President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir administered the oath to them at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban at 7:45pm. With this, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expanded his cabinet six months after forming the government, bringing five more members into the Council of Ministers. Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani conducted the oath-taking ceremony. BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman took the oath as prime minister on February 17 following the victory of his party in the February 12 election. Tarique Rahman formed the incumbent government with a 49‑member cabinet, including himself as 25 other ministers and 23 state ministers took oath on the same day. Later on June 1, Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Dipen Dewan resigned from his post, citing health reasons. With Mirza Fakhrul becoming President, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives will also fall vacant. With the induction of five new faces, the number of cabinet members now stands at 52, which include 27 ministers and 24 state ministers.