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Major reshuffle in govt

Four more advisers sworn in


Published : 16 Aug 2024 11:05 PM

The interim government has made a major reshuffle within nine days of the formation of the interim government headed by Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus following the fall of Awami League led government amid a mass upsurge.

The reshuffle was made on Friday after four more advisers --economist Wahiduddin Mahmud, former secretary Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, former cabinet secretary Ali Imam Majumder and former director general of defunct Bangladesh Rifles Lt Gen (Rtd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury-- were sworn-in at a ceremony at Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban. 

Following the ceremony, the interim government in a major move has redistributed ministries among the advisers, entrusting them with different ministries, according to a press statement issued by the Chief Advisor's press wing. 

With the swearing-in of the four advisers, the members of the Council of Advisers in the Yunus-led interim government now stands at 21. Earlier on 9 August, the Cabinet Division announced the distribution of ministries among the advisers, with Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus being given charge of 27 ministries and divisions. According to the new press statement, some advisers have been given charge of new ministries, some others have seen a change in roles. Brig General (Rtd) M Sakhawat Hossain, who was in charge of the home affairs ministry, has been relieved. He will now oversee the

 Ministry of Textiles and Jute. 

Lt Gen (Rtd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has been given the responsibilities of the Ministry of Home Affairs along with the Ministry of Agriculture. 

Economist Wahiduddin Mahmud has been given the charge of the ministries of Planning and Education while Ali Imam Majumder has been attached with the Chief Adviser’s Office.

Fauzul Kabir Khan has got the responsibilities of three ministries. He will oversee the ministries of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Road Transport and Bridges Division and Railways.

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed has also been given charge of the Ministry of Commerce as well.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul has also been given charge of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment; and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan has been given charge of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works in addition to the Ministry of Industries.

Environment, Forest and Climate Adviser Rizwana Hasan has been additionally given charge of the Ministry of Water Resources.

Sports and Youth Adviser Asif Mahmud has additionally been given charge of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

ICT Adviser Nahid Islam has additionally been given charge of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Liberation War Affairs Adviser Farooq-e-Azam has been additionally bestowed the charge of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.

Earlier, 17 advisers of the interim government took oath in three phases.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Friday administered the oath to the advisers at the Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban at 4:11 pm.

Chief adviser Dr Yunus was present at the oath taking ceremony, conducted by the Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain. 

Of the new advisers, Wahiduddin Mahmud took oath as adviser for the second time to run the state affairs. 

In 1996, he served the Justice Habibur Rahman led caretaker government as the adviser of the ministries of finance and planning. 

Mahmud, who has the experience of working with the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and other international organisations, was involved in formulating the five-year plan of the government. 

Former Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumder was appointed as special assistant to the Chief Adviser on August 12.

But, Dr Yunus led interim government on Thursday decided to make him an adviser of the incumbent government. 

Before taking oath as adviser, his previous appointment as special assistance to the Chief Adviser was cancelled. 

Majumder discharged as the Cabinet Secretary from December 2006 to November 2008, the most of the period was governed by the army-backed caretaker government led by Fakhruddin Ahmed following the 1/11 political change over.

Fawzul Kabir Khan, who took oath as adviser of the interim government, served the power division between 2007 and 2009 as secretary.

Khan led the planning and implementation of the Solar Home Systems programme, financed by the World Bank. 

Another adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury became the director general of the then Bangladesh Rifles in 2003. He was the chairman of the probe commission formed by the Bangladesh Army to look into the BDR mutiny held in February in 2009.

After taking the oath, each of them individually signed the oath of office and the oath of secrecy as well.

Advisers, chiefs of the three services, senior military and civil officials were present on the occasion.

In the face of student-people uprising, Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post of prime minister and fled the country on August 5.

Subsequently, the parliament was dissolved and an interim government, led by Prof Yunus, was formed on August 8.

Of the advisers, two --- Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud --- are representing the students who have dragged the AL government down to the earth through the mass upsurge.

After the formation of the interim government on Aug 8, the Cabinet Division the next day announced the portfolios of the interim government, with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus to oversee 27 ministries and divisions.

The announcement, published on Friday outlines the ministries and divisions that Dr. Yunus will lead in the interim administration:

Cabinet Division, Ministry of Defence, Armed Forces Division, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, Ministry of Food, Ministry of Housing and Public Works, Ministry of Land, Ministry of Textiles and Jute, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Public Administration, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs and Ministry of Primary and Mass Education. 

The portfolios of the rest of the advisers of the interim government are as follows; Salehuddin Ahmed: Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Planning, Asif Nazrul: Law Ministry, Adilur Rahman Khan: Industries Ministry, Hasan Arif: LGRD Ministry, Syeda Rizwana Hasan: Environment Ministry, Sharmin Murshid: Social Welfare Ministry, Brigadier (retd) AKM Sakhawat Hossain: Ministry of Home Affairs, AFM Khalid Hossain: Religious Affairs Ministry, Farida Akhtar: Fisheries and Livestock Ministry, Nurjahan Begum: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Nahid Islam: Information and Broadcasting Ministry and Asif Mahmud: Youth and Sports Ministry.