CR Abrar to be sworn in as interim government advisor on Wednesday

The former professor of international relations at Dhaka University will take charge of the Ministry of Education, the press secretary to the chief advisor says

Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar, a former professor of international relations at Dhaka University who is popularly known as CR Abrar, is set to take an oath of office as an advisor to the interim government.

He will be sworn in at the Bangabhaban at 11am on Wednesday.

Abrar will take charge of the Ministry of Education, according to Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the chief advisor.

The Advisory Council led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus consists of 21 advisors. Advisor Wahiduddin Mahmud is in charge of both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Planning.

The chief advisor will reshuffle the duties once Abrar has been sworn in.

Abrar, who retired from his post as Dhaka University professor, is the executive director of the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit, or RMMRU – a private research organisation.

His research interests include Rohingya refugees, migrant workers, and the citizenship of Bangladesh’s Urdu-speaking population.

Abrar also served as the president of human rights organisation “Odhikar” at one time.

He was also a member of the search panel that recommended names for the Election Commission late last year after the changeover in power.

The Bangabhaban has already begun preparing for the swearing-in ceremony.

Mozaffar Ahmed, commissioner (additional secretary) of the Department of Government Transport, said: “We have prepared a vehicle for tomorrow according to the instructions of higher authorities.”

Yunus took over as chief advisor on Aug 8 after a mass uprising toppled the Awami League government, marking the start of the interim government.

A total of 16 advisors joined Yunus in the first phase before four others took office.

On Nov 10, another three took oath to take the number of advisors to 24. Among them, AF Hassan Ariff died on Dec 20 before Nahid Islam resigned from his post as advisor on Feb 26 to join politics.

Currently, three others - a special assistant, special envoy and high representative to the chief advisor - have the rank of advisor. In addition, three special assistants are serving with the rank of state minister.