Dhaka (TDI): Bangladesh’s newly elected Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman, has unveiled his first cabinet following a sweeping victory in the national elections.
Shortly after taking the oath of office on Tuesday, Rahman announced a 50-member cabinet, assigning key portfolios as his government begins its term.
Rahman has retained the defense ministry under his own supervision while appointing veteran politician and businessman Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury as finance minister. Chowdhury, 76, previously served in government and now returns to oversee an economy shaken by months of unrest that dented investor confidence in the world’s second-largest garment-exporting nation.
The new administration replaces an interim government that had been in charge since the 2024 uprising that brought an end to the long rule of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
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Chowdhury once served in the cabinet of Rahman’s late mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. In 2004, he stepped down from office after approving permission for Taiwan to establish a commercial office in Dhaka, a move that reportedly sparked political controversy. During Hasina’s 15-year tenure, Chowdhury was detained multiple times in cases critics described as politically motivated.
At 60, Rahman faces significant domestic and regional challenges. In addition to stabilising the economy and strengthening national security, his government must address deep political divisions within the country.
Regionally, Bangladesh is situated between India and Myanmar, both of which present strategic concerns. Border tensions with India remain sensitive, while instability in Myanmar has led to spillover effects in frontier regions. Bangladesh continues to host more than one million Rohingya refugees who fled violence in Myanmar.
Rahman appointed experienced diplomat Khalilur Rahman as foreign minister. A former United Nations official educated in Dhaka and the United States, Khalilur previously handled security affairs in the caretaker administration and played a role in trade discussions with Washington.
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Managing foreign relations will be a delicate task. Ties with India cooled during the interim government, while Dhaka simultaneously expanded engagement with Pakistan. Prime Minister Rahman is expected to convene his first cabinet meeting later this week as his administration begins addressing the country’s pressing economic and geopolitical priorities.
