PM reshuffles portfolios of two advisors and eight state ministers

The Cabinet Division issues a gazette notification announcing the changes within two weeks of the formation of the new government

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has reassigned the responsibilities of two advisors with the rank of minister and eight state ministers within two weeks of forming his cabinet.

The Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification on Wednesday announcing the reshuffle.

According to the notification, the portfolios were reallocated in line with the Rules of Business, 1996, due to "administrative necessity".

Under the new arrangement, Nazrul Islam Khan, the prime minister’s political advisor, has also been given the role of advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Senior BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed has been assigned the additional post of advisor to the Ministry of Industries, alongside his role as the prime minister's political advisor.

Among the state ministers, Md Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki has been relieved of his finance ministry portfolio and instead given responsibility for the planning ministry.

Farzana Sharmin has been relieved of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and assigned to the Ministry of Social Welfare.

Md Nurul Haque has been moved from the Ministry of Labour and Employment to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.

Bobby Hajjaj has been reassigned from the education ministry to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education.

Md Shariful Alam has been moved from the commerce ministry to the Ministry of Textiles and Jute.

Sultan Salahuddin Tuku has been relieved of responsibilities for the Ministry of Agriculture and instead assigned to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.

The responsibilities of Habibur Rashid have been expanded with the addition of the railways ministry, alongside the Road Transport and Highways Division.

Md Rajib Ahsan has been assigned to the Ministry of Shipping and the Bridges Division.

Ministers and state ministers in the new government led by Tarique were sworn in on Feb 17, and their portfolios were assigned on the same day. A separate notification issued on Feb 24 distributed responsibilities among advisors.