Four new faces join cabinet, swearing in tonight
From left: Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, Andaleeve Rahman Partho, Sa Ching Prue Jerry and Mohammad Shamim Kaiser Lincoln. File photo
Four more members are being added to the government’s Cabinet. The new president will administer their oaths at Bangabhaban this evening. The Cabinet expansion has been undertaken to accelerate government activities. Several ministries may also see reshuffles along with the addition of the new members.
The four new members are BNP Standing Committee member Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan MP, Jatiya Party Chairman Barrister Andaleeve Rahman Partho MP, Sa Ching Prue Jerry who was elected from Bandarban and Mohammad Shamim Kaiser Lincoln who was elected from the Gaibandha 4 constituency.
Cabinet sources told Agamir Somoy that after the new members join the Cabinet there may be reshuffles in the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Food, Ministry of Power Energy and Mineral Resources and Ministry of Local Government. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting may also see changes.
Meanwhile, Bangabhaban’s Darbar Hall has been prepared for the new president’s swearing in ceremony this evening. President’s Press Secretary Mohammad Sarwar Alam said all preparations for the ceremony have been completed. The Cabinet Division is organizing the event.
Officials from the Cabinet Division said more than 1,200 guests have been invited to the swearing in ceremony.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will take oath as president at 7:30 pm Friday at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban. Acting Speaker Kaiser Kamal will administer the oath to him. Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani will conduct the swearing in ceremony.
According to the invitation issued by the Cabinet Division, Mirza Fakhrul will enter the Darbar Hall at 7:30 pm. The national anthem and Quran recitation will be followed by the Speaker administering the oath to the president.
On July 24, President Mohammad Sahabuddin who was elected during the Awami League government resigned. Following the vacancy in the presidential office, the process of electing a new president began in accordance with the Constitution. Voting in the presidential election was held from 2 pm to 5 pm Thursday in the Parliament Chamber of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was the BNP candidate in the election while Colonel (Retd.) Oli Ahmed was the candidate of the 11-party alliance led by Jamaat e Islami.
After the votes were counted, Election Officer and Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin announced the results in the Parliament Chamber. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was elected president after receiving 255 votes out of 349 members of Parliament. A gazette notification was issued later that night.
After the parliamentary system was restored, the 1991 presidential election was contested because both BNP and Awami League had candidates. After 35 years, the presidential election was contested again this time with multiple candidates.
