DHAKA: Bangladesh’s newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday announced a 50-member cabinet, formally launching his administration following a sweeping electoral victory and setting the stage for economic and security reforms.
Rahman was sworn into office on Tuesday, succeeding the interim administration that had governed the nation of 170 million since a violent 2024 uprising that toppled the government of Sheikh Hasina. His new cabinet was announced in a gazette notification issued late Tuesday.
Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, 76, a seasoned lawmaker and former commerce minister, returns to the finance ministry at a critical time. He has been tasked with reviving economic growth after months of political unrest that dented investor confidence in Bangladesh, the world’s second-largest garment exporter.
He previously served in the cabinet of Rahman’s late mother, former prime minister Khaleda Zia, but resigned in 2004. Media reports at the time said the resignation followed his decision to permit Taiwan to open a commercial office in Dhaka, though Chowdhury has not publicly addressed the matter.
During Hasina’s 15-year rule, he was arrested multiple times in cases widely criticised by opposition leaders as politically motivated.
Rahman, 60, has appointed himself defence minister as his administration confronts pressing challenges, including strengthening internal security and bridging political divides in a country deeply polarised after years of intense rivalry.
Bangladesh faces complex regional dynamics, positioned between India – where border tensions remain elevated – and Myanmar, where conflict has periodically spilled over into frontier regions.
The country also hosts more than one million Rohingya refugees who fled violence in Myanmar.
The prime minister appointed Khalilur Rahman as foreign minister. A seasoned diplomat and former United Nations official, Khalilur Rahman previously handled the security portfolio in the caretaker government and played a key role in mediating trade talks with the United States.
He now faces the delicate task of balancing regional ties, particularly after relations with India cooled during the interim period while Dhaka strengthened engagement with Pakistan.
India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar congratulated his Bangladeshi counterpart on Wednesday, expressing hope that both sides would work together to advance bilateral cooperation.
Prime Minister Rahman is expected to chair his first cabinet meeting later on Wednesday. The newly formed cabinet includes veteran politicians, former ministers and lawmakers, academics, and party workers, reflecting a blend of experience and political loyalty as the government embarks on its new term.
