Much curiosity and discussion over cabinet reshuffle

The Cabinet has been reshuffled just six months after the government took office. Along with the addition of new faces, several key ministries have changed hands. Some ministers have been promoted. Some have lost their previous portfolios. Others have remained in the Cabinet with new responsibilities. Overall, the reshuffle signals the government’s priorities and the way it plans to work during the next six months.

The changes in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs have drawn particular attention. In some cases, ministers have changed portfolios. In others, state ministers have been promoted to full ministers. New faces have also been brought in to strengthen leadership in some ministries.

There had been discussions within the government that the changes could be made after evaluating its performance during the first six months. The goal was to speed up the work of the ministries and ensure effective leadership for implementing the government’s electoral pledges. However, people familiar with the matter believe political calculations also played a role in some of the changes.

The Cabinet was expanded and reshuffled last Friday after the government completed six months on August 17. Five new ministers and state ministers have been added. One state minister has been promoted to a full minister. At the same time, the portfolios of several ministers have been changed.

Major change in Information Ministry

The biggest change in the reshuffle has come in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Andaleeb Rahman Partho, chairman of the BJP, has been appointed minister of the ministry replacing Zahir Uddin Swapan. There has been considerable discussion over why Swapan was removed. A section within the BNP believes he had been performing well in the ministry because of his long relationship with the media and his media friendly position. However, some people also reportedly complained about him to the party’s high command during this period.

Some people close to the government said that as information minister, Zahir Uddin Swapan was expected to take a more aggressive political stance against the opposition and the Awami League. However, he presented political issues in his own way. Some people also reportedly complained to the Prime Minister’s Office about several appointments. Some claim that these issues created a degree of distance between him and the Prime Minister’s Office.

However, Zahir Uddin Swapan is not leaving the government despite losing the ministry. He has been appointed Political Adviser to the Prime Minister with the rank of a minister. The Cabinet Division issued a notification regarding the appointment on Saturday.

It is learned that the new Information and Broadcasting Minister Barrister Andaleeb Rahman Partho has a longstanding relationship with State Minister Yaser Khan Chowdhury. Partho has been close to Yaser since the latter worked at the BBC in London. The two families also have a longstanding relationship. Partho’s father Najiur Rahman Manju and Yaser’s father Anwarul Hossain Khan Chowdhury were close friends.

Welcoming the new minister, Yaser Khan Chowdhury said, “We believe in teamwork. We want to work together in such an important ministry as the Ministry of Information and fulfill the Prime Minister’s expectations.”

Moin Khan gets Local Government Ministry

The Ministry of Local Government became vacant after Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was elected president. Dr Abdul Moin Khan has been given responsibility for the ministry. Many party leaders view the decision as appropriate. According to them, the experienced Moin Khan could make the ministry’s work more dynamic. Mir Shah Alam is serving as the state minister of the ministry.

Rita changes portfolio, Millat promoted

There has been a major change in the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism. State Minister Rashiduzzaman Millat has been promoted to full minister. This is clearly a promotion for him. Meanwhile, Minister Afroza Khanam Rita has been removed from the ministry and given responsibility for the Ministry of Food. A source close to her said she was disappointed by the change.

Rashiduzzaman Millat said, “The main goal of the Cabinet reshuffle is to move the country forward in a better way. Our goal is to work in the interests of the people according to the instructions of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. We will also work to implement the government’s initiatives for the welfare of people at the grassroots level.”

Satisfaction in the hills

Saching Prue Jerry, convener of the Bandarban district BNP and a member of parliament, has been appointed minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs. Since Deepen Dewan resigned on June 1, State Minister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin had been in charge of the ministry. Since then, there had been demands from hill communities for a hill representative to be appointed as a full minister. The appointment of Saching Prue Jerry as minister has reportedly created satisfaction among the hill communities.

Two state ministers in Foreign Affairs

Humayun Kabir, the Prime Minister’s adviser on foreign affairs with the rank of state minister, has been appointed state minister for foreign affairs. He received the responsibility under the technocrat quota. Humayun Kabir has had a longstanding political relationship with Tarique Rahman. On October 22, 2025, he became BNP joint secretary general for international affairs. He has experience in international relations and diplomacy. While serving as the Prime Minister’s adviser, he also worked on various international issues on behalf of the government.

Dr Khalilur Rahman has been serving as minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the beginning. Shama Obaid is serving as state minister. Meanwhile, Khalilur Rahman was elected president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in June. Shama Obaid said another state minister was appointed to speed up the ministry’s work. According to her, Khalilur Rahman will have to remain busy for the next year as president of the UN General Assembly. Therefore, teamwork will be necessary to handle the additional responsibilities.

Controversy over Religious Affairs Ministry

Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain, also known as Kaykobad, has been serving as religious affairs minister since the beginning. Shamim Kaisar Lincoln has now been appointed state minister for religious affairs. However, Hefazat e Islam Bangladesh had demanded that he not be appointed state minister for religious affairs. In a statement issued on Friday night, the organization urged the government to reconsider the decision.

Discussions over further changes have continued even after the Cabinet expansion.

There are discussions within and outside the government about bringing several more people into the Cabinet. Some other portfolios may also be changed. However, the reshuffle rumors surrounding the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Water Resources in recent days were not reflected in this round of changes.