Bangladesh
Cabinet Seven new state ministers sworn in
Dhaka, March 2: Seven new members have been inducted into the current cabinet headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. President Md. Shahabuddin administered the oath to the new state ministers at the historic Durbar Hall of Banga Bhavan at 7:30 pm. After taking the oath, they signed the oath of office and secrecy.
The members of the new cabinet are Rajshahi-5 Member of Parliament Md. Abdul Wadud, Naogaon-2 Member of Parliament Md. Shahiduzzaman Sarkar, Chittagong-14 Member of Parliament Md. Nazrul Islam Chowdhury and reserved women's Member of Parliament Shamsunnahar Champa, Wasika Ayesha Khan, Nahid Izhar Khan and Rokeya Sultana.
Awami League president Sheikh Hasina formed the government for the fourth time in a row on January 11 after the absolute victory of Awami League in the elections of January 7. Twenty-six ministers and 11 ministers of state were among the 37 members in the first cabinet. Now with the new additions, the total number of cabinet members stands at 44. Currently, there are 26 ministers and 18 state ministers in Sheikh Hasina's cabinet.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President's wife Dr. Rebecca Sultana attended the swearing-in ceremony. Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, Ministers, Whips of Parliament, Members of Parliament (MPs), concerned secretaries of the President and Prime Minister's Offices, political leaders, journalists, and senior civil and military officers were among the guests present at the historic Durbar Hall.
The ceremony started with the recitation of the Holy Quran.
The state ministers took the oath with the pledge to protect the national constitution and state sovereignty. Cabinet Secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain conducted the oath ceremony. About two hundred guests were invited to the historic event.
On January 7, the 12th National Assembly elections were held in 299 constituencies. Awami League won absolute victory in 223 seats with 'boat' symbol. In the election, Jatiya Party won 11 seats and independent candidates won 62 seats, Awami League-led 14-party partner party-Workers Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal got one seat each. Bangladesh Kalyan Party won one seat.
