Dhaka: The new government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has formally distributed ministerial portfolios, just hours after the swearing-in of the council of ministers on Tuesday.

A gazette notification issued late at night confirmed the responsibilities of the 25 full ministers and 24 state ministers in the new cabinet. The team includes representation from minority communities, with Hindu leader Nitai Roy Chowdhury appointed Minister for Cultural Affairs and Buddhist leader Dipen Dewan taking charge of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Ministry.

The Prime Minister has kept direct control of the Cabinet Division, the Ministry of Defence, and the Armed Forces Division.

Key Full Minister Appointments

Senior BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will head the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives. Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has been given charge of Finance and Planning, while Salahuddin Ahmed will oversee Home Affairs.

Iqbal Hasan Mahmud will lead the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry. Hafiz Uddin Ahmed (Bir Bikram) has been assigned Liberation War Affairs, and AZM Zahid Hossain will manage Women and Children Affairs along with Social Welfare.

Technocrat and former national security adviser Khalilur Rahman has been appointed Foreign Minister. Abdul Awal Mintoo will handle Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain Kaikobad has been given Religious Affairs.

Other notable appointments include:

• Mizanur Rahman Minu – Land

• Khandaker Abdul Muktadir – Commerce, Industries, Textiles and Jute

• Ariful Haque Choudhury – Labour and Employment and Expatriates’ Welfare

• Zahir Uddin Swapon – Information and Broadcasting

• Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid – Agriculture, Fisheries, Livestock and Food

• Afroza Khanam Rita – Civil Aviation and Tourism

• Shahid Uddin Chowdhury – Water Resources

• Asadul Habib Dulu – Disaster Management and Relief

• Mohammad Asaduzzaman – Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs

• Zakaria Taher – Housing and Public Works

• ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon – Education and Primary and Mass Education

• Sarder Md Sakhawat Hossain – Health and Family Planning

• Fakir Mahbub Anam – Posts, Telecommunications, IT and Science & Technology

• Sheikh Rabiul Alam – Road Transport, Railways and Shipping

State Ministers Named

Among the state ministers, M Rashiduzzaman Millat has been assigned Civil Aviation and Tourism, while Anindya Islam Amit will assist in Power and Energy.

Shama Obaed has been given Foreign Affairs, and Sultan Salahuddin Tuku will oversee Agriculture and Food at the state level.

Other appointments include responsibilities in Land, Water Resources, Youth and Sports, Public Administration, Liberation War Affairs, Environment, Labour, Information, Disaster Management, Health, Housing, Education, and Cultural Affairs.

Advisers Appointed

The Prime Minister has also inducted ten advisers. Mirza Abbas Uddin Ahmed, Nazrul Islam Khan, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, Md Ismail Zabihullah, and Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir will serve with ministerial rank.

Humayun Kabir, Brig Gen (retd.) Shamsul Islam, Zahed Ur Rahman, Mahadi Amin, and Rehan Asif Asad have been appointed advisers with the rank of state minister.

The formation of the cabinet marks the first major administrative step of the new government following its electoral victory, setting the stage for policy direction in the coming term.