PM reshuffles cabinet, 6 new faces inducted

Shahjahan Khan made minister, Enamul, Mujibur, Promod, Mahbubur, Shirin state ministers raising total strength to 43
Six new members were inducted in the council of ministers of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a major expansion since her Awami League-led government assumed office on January 6 after the landmark December 29, 2008 general elections.
President Zillur Rahman administered the oath of office of the six minister and state ministers at the Bangabhaban Credential Hall in a ceremony also joined by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and senior government leaders.
The minister is Shahjahan Khan MP, who until now was the parliamentary standing committee chairman on Labour and Employment Ministry. The five state ministers are Brig (retd) Enamul Haque MP of Rajshahi, retired captain Dr. Mojibur Rahman Fakir MP of Mymensingh, Pramad Mankin MP of Mymensingh, Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury MP(reserved) of Noakhali and Mahbubur Rahman MP of Patuakhali.
“We have a number of ministries . . . the workload of those who are now in charge of the ministries is also increasing as we have given the budget,” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told newsmen after the swearing in of the new ministers and state ministers.
“So we have expanded the council of ministers.”
Hasina said the new ministers and state ministers were all competent people. “We are giving them the responsibilities; let us see how far they can deliver.” Until the new inductions the strength of the council of ministers was 38.
UNB adds: Newly inducted Shajahan Khan MP was given the charge of the Shipping Ministry while Dr Afsarul Amin was moved from there to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education.
Dr Hasan Mahmud, who was state minister for foreign affairs, was sent to the Ministry of Environment and Forest while Advocate Mustafizur Rahman was reassigned as State Minister for Land. State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Advocate Shamsul Huq Tuku was given the new responsibility as State Minister for Home Affairs to fill the vacancy left by Tanjim Ahmed Sohel Taj’s recent resignation.
Among the newly inducted five state ministers, Brig (retd) Enamul Huq was given the portfolio of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Dr Capt (retd) Mujibur Rahman Fakir went to Health and Family Welfare Ministry, Advocate Promod Mankin got Cultural Affairs Ministry, Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury Women and Children Affairs Ministry and Mahbubur Rahman Water Resources Ministry.
This is the second expansion of the cabinet since Hasina formed her government with a 32-member council of ministers on January 6 .
On January 24, she first expanded her cabinet with the induction of six state ministers.
bdnews24.com adds: The 43-strong cabinet now has 25 ministers and 18 state ministers after the resignation of state minister for home Tanjim Ahmed.
GM Quader of Jatiya Party, Dilip Barua of Samyobadi Dal and law minister Shafique Ahmed, a technocrat minister, are the exceptions in an cabinet dominated by ruling Awami League MPs.

Courtesy of BSS, Dhaka