Quader dismisses deputy PM post as rumour, hints at possible cabinet reshuffle

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has brushed off the possibility of a deputy prime minister post being created.

But the road transport minister has hinted that the cabinet may go through a reshuffle.

Regarding talk in the social media about the positon of a deputy prime minister, Quader on Tuesday told reporters: “This is a rumour. This is a baseless, straight lie.”

He was talking to journalists at the Setu Bhaban in Dhaka’s Mohakhali after a meeting with the Australian high commissioner.

The social media was abuzz with speculations about another post right below the prime minister’s along with a shuffle in the cabinet, when the government still has one and a half year of its term left.

Quader, however, did not snub the possibility of a cabinet shuffle completely. “This is the prime minister’s jurisdiction and she will decide who she will keep and who she will remove.”

“There could be a reshuffle. But I don’t know when and what will happen.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her council of ministers were sworn in on Jan 12, 2014, after the Awami League won the 10th parliamentary election.

Since then, the cabinet has gone through several changes and shuffles.

Currently, there are 32 ministers, including Hasina, 17 ministers of state and two deputy ministers.