Seven more state ministers who were newly added to the cabinet for the fourth consecutive term of the Awami League government under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina have taken the oath of office. As a result, the size of the cabinet has increased to 44 members.
President Md. Sahabuddin administered the oath to the new State Ministers at Bangabhaban on Friday (March 1) evening. In the presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the oath ceremony was conducted by Cabinet Secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain. Besides Speaker Shireen Sharmin Chowdhury, cabinet members were also present on the occasion.
The new State Ministers who took oath are – Rajshahi-5 Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Md. Abdul Wadud, Naogaon-2 Constituency MP Shahiduzzaman Sarkar, Chattogram-14 Constituency MP Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, Reserved Women Constituency MP and Awami League Central Education and Human Resource Affairs Secretary Begum Shamsun Nahar (Tangail), Reserved Women Constituency MP and Awami League Central and Planning Finance Secretary Begum Wasika Ayesha Khan (Chattogram), Begum Nahid Izahar Khan (Dhaka), MP for reserved women's seat and daughter of Martyred Colonel Nazmul Huda and MP for reserved women's seat and Central Health and Population Secretary of Awami League Begum Rokeya Sultana (Jaipurhat).
Earlier in the afternoon, the President appointed seven new ministers of State to the cabinet. A notification in this regard was issued by the Cabinet Division.
It was informed that according to Clause (2) of Article 56 of the Constitution, the President on Friday appointed seven people as State Ministers of the Government.
Awami League has formed the government for the fourth consecutive term after winning the majority of seats in the 12th Jatiya Sangsad elections on January 7. Boat symbol won 223 seats in the election. The coalition partners also got two seats elected on the boat symbol. Jatiya Party got 11 seats and Kalyan Party got one seat. Besides, independent candidates have won 62 seats for the first time.
On January 11, 37 members of the new cabinet took oath at Bangabhaban. Among them, 36 ministers-state ministers except the Prime Minister. As 7 new members were added today, the size of the cabinet now stood at 44. Of them, 25 full ministers and 18 state ministers.