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He has been replaced by another former army officer Jahangir Alam Chowdhury
Published : 17 Aug 2024, 01:03 AM
Advisor M Sakhawat Hussain, who was rumoured to be in the firing line following his recent remarks about Sheikh Hasina, Awami League, media and border killings, has lost home ministry a week into the job.
After the induction of four new members on Friday afternoon, Muhammad Yunus assigned offices to them and added responsibilities to the current ones.
Tipped for the chop, retired brigadier general Sakhawat has been shunted sideways to the less important Ministry of Jute and Textiles.
The Chief Advisor's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam confirmed the developments on Friday night.
Sakhawat has been replaced by another former military officer Jahangir Alam Chowdhury at the home ministry. Chowdhury, a retired lieutenant general, will also lead the agriculture ministry.
Sakhawat had called for Hasina’s return to the country, prompting the Anti-discrimination Student Movement to accuse advisors of trying to rehabilitate her. It also warned that they will be removed if such attempts continued.
Interim prime minister Yunus has relinquished charges of 15 ministries and divisions in the reshuffle but kept the reins of the defence ministry, which usually rests with the president when a caretaker administration runs Bangladesh.
Among the new advisors who took the oath of office at Bangabhaban, former bureaucrat Fouzul Kabir Khan will helm three ministries - power, energy and mineral resources, road transport and bridges, and railways, he confirmed to bdnews24.com.
Economist Wahiduddin Mahmud has been assigned the responsibilities of education and planning ministries.
Former top central banker Saleh Uddin Ahmed was in charge of planning, but he will now focus his efforts on finance and commerce ministries.
Ex-cabinet secretary Ali Imam Majumdar has been attached to the office of the chief advisor.
Law Advisor Asif Nazrul has been assigned the twin ministries of expatriates' welfare and overseas employment, and cultural affairs.
Adilur Rahman Khan will steer the housing and public works in addition to the industries ministry.
Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan has been put in charge of the water resources ministry besides her environment, forests and climate change portfolio.
Md Nahid Islam, 26, will now lead the information and broadcasting ministry -- making him the principal spokesperson of the government -- on top of the posts, telecommunications and IT ministry.
While 25-year old Youth And Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain will also helm the labour and employment ministry.
Liberation War Affairs Advisor Faruk E Azam has been given responsibilities for the disaster management and relief ministry.
The interim government expanded nine days after its formation and now has 21 members.
Following the fall of the Awami League government amid a mass uprising spearheaded by students and job seekers, the interim government of Yunus took the reins on Aug 8.
Out of 17, 14 advisors, including the chief advisor, took oath on that day.
Later, in two phases, the remaining three were sworn in by President Mohammed Shahabuddin.
On Aug 9, offices were allocated to 13 advisors. The remaining three advisors also received their portfolios.
