Chumki takes oath

MP Meher Afroz Chumki has taken oath as State Minister for Women and Children Affairs, swelling the brigade of women in Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's cabinet.

President Abdul Hamid swore the Gazipur-5 MP in to office on Sunday in a ceremony watched by Hasina.

Cabinet Secretary Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan conducted the oath-taking ceremony at the Ganabhaban.

The position fell vacant after Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was elected Speaker of Parliament last month.

Chumki is the sixth woman minister in the Hasina cabinet.

She was first elected MP in 2009. However, she was an MP from the reserved seats for women during 1996-2001.

She is the daughter of Mayejuddin Ahmad who died during the movement against the autocratic government of Hussein Muhammad Ershad.

Born on Nov 1, 1959, Chumki graduated with Honours in Botany from Dhaka University. She has been an Assistant Secretary in the central Sub Committee of the ruling Awami League.

She has been President of Family Planning Association of Bangladesh, a member of the Syndicate of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and a Senate member of National University.