The Government of Bangladesh, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, announced a cabinet reshuffle on Thursday. The most significant change is the appointment of Hasan Mahmud as the Foreign Minister, replacing A.K. Abdul Momen. This move indicates that some of the recent diplomatic challenges faced by Bangladesh were not handled to the satisfaction of the Prime Minister. Hasan Mahmud’s promotion is seen as a major upward shift in his political career.
Asaduzzaman Khan and Obaidul Quader, who held the positions of Home Minister and Road Transport Minister respectively, have retained their ministries. Both Khan and Quader are heavyweight politicians within the ruling Awami League.
The reshuffle also saw the removal of Shahriar Alam from his position as Deputy Foreign Minister. Mr. Alam was known for his forceful articulation of Dhaka’s position in diplomatic dialogues. The decision to remove him, as well as A.K. Abdul Momen, suggests a strained relationship between Prime Minister Hasina and Western capitals, especially the United States.
Another notable appointment in the cabinet reshuffle is the inclusion of Mohammed Ali Arafat as Deputy Minister. This move was surprising to some, as there were speculations that Arafat could become the Deputy Foreign Minister. However, no one was recruited for that position in this reshuffle.
In addition to these changes, Dipu Moni, a longtime associate of Sheikh Hasina, was appointed as the Minister of Social Welfare. Sadhan Chandra Majumdar, Samanta Lal Sen, and Narayan Chandra Chanda were given important ministries related to food, health and family welfare, and land respectively. The reshuffle also included members of religious and ethnic minority communities in Bangladesh, with Sadhan Chandra Majumdar becoming the new food minister, Samanta Lal Sen as the new health and family welfare minister, and Narayan Chandra Chanda as the minister of land.
The cabinet reshuffle also involved the removal of Major General Tarique Ahmed Siddique, adviser on security affairs, and Salman F. Rahman, investment adviser. However, there are speculations that they would be re-appointed to their respective positions soon. Overall, the cabinet reshuffle reflects the Prime Minister’s efforts to address various challenges and strengthen her government’s performance on multiple fronts.
