Three more advisors sworn into interim cabinet

The Yunus-led advisory council now comprises 24 members

Muhammad Yunus has expanded his cabinet by inducting three more members three months after the Nobel Peace champion took the reins of the interim government following the fall of Sheikh Hasina.

The latest to join his advisory council are Sheikh Bashir Uddin, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, and Md Mahfuj Alam.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath to the three new advisors at the Bangabhaban’s Darbar Hall around 7:30pm on Sunday.

Along with Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus and advisors, other guests were present on the occasion.

The interim government council now comprises 24 members with the new three.

This expansion marks the second increase in the advisory council’s size, three months into the interim administration, which pledged to fulfil the public's demand for change.

Following the ousting of the Sheikh Hasina administration on Aug 5 amid a wave of public and student protests, the interim government was sworn in on Aug 8.

Initially, the chief advisor was joined by 16 advisors, with four more added in the first expansion.

President Shahabuddin, accompanied by Yunus, arrived at the Darbar Hall ahead of the swearing-in ceremony in the evening.

The programme began with the singing of the national anthem. A minute's silence was observed in a show of respect for the martyrs.

Following a recitation from the Quran, the president administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new advisors.

The three later signed the oath book. Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid moderated the 10-minute ceremony.

However, the expansion of the advisory council with five more advisors was reported on Sunday afternoon.

Abul Hasnat Humayun Kabir, the transport commissioner of the Government Transport Department (additional secretary), had reportedly prepared five vehicles for the occasion.

However, in response to journalists' inquiries at the Secretariat in the afternoon, the cabinet secretary said, "Three people may take the oath; let’s see."

The cabinet secretary also hinted that portfolio allocation might be finalised soon after the oath-taking ceremony if Yunus grants his approval.

WHO ARE THOSE NEW ADVISORS

Bashir is a businessman who started AkijBashir Group following in the footsteps of his father Sheikh Akij Uddin.

Currently, as the managing director, he operates AkijBashir Group as a diversified conglomerate with 18 affiliated companies, including ceramics, tableware, bathware, jute, particle board, doors, packaging, glass, and more.

The company operates in three countries and exports products to over 25 countries.

Farooki has been involved in drama and filmmaking for nearly 25 years. His latest work, “Last Defenders of Monogamy”, is a film centred around the theme of love.

His “Something Like an Autobiography” was released on an OTT platform, where he made his acting debut.

Some of his popular films include Bachelor, Third Person Singular Number, Television, Ant Story, and Doob.

The Chief Advisor’s Special Assistant Mahfuj Alam has also been elevated to advisor. He was the coordinator of the liaison committee of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, which led the anti-government movement.

Mahfuj was a student of the law department at Dhaka University in the 2015-16 academic year. His hometown is in Isapur village of Ramganj Upazila in Lakshmipur district.

He is known on campus as the theoretical leader of the Ganatantrik Chhatra Shakti, whose leaders have been at the forefront of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement since its inception.