The newly appointed Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said that in his tenure, he would work to further strengthen Bangladesh relations with both eastern and western countries.
"The Prime Minister entrusted me with the responsibility of foreign ministry. We will move the country forward and brighten the country image, improve relations with the East and the West," he said.
He made the remarks after laying wreaths on the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi 32 along with the newly formed cabinet members.
The holy Shab-e-Meraj will be observed on the night of February 8 (Thursday) with due respect and religious fervor as the moon of Hijri month of Rajab (1445 Hijri) was not sighted anywhere across the country today.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee at the Islamic Foundation at Baitul Mukarram here this evening with Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Md Naib Ali Mandal in the chair, an Islamic Foundation (IF) press release said.
As per the decision, the Holy Rajab month will begin from Sunday (January 14), the release added.
SAVAR: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today paid homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War, a day after taking oath to form the government for a record fifth term and fourth in a row.
Sheikh Hasina as the Prime Minister first paid glowing tributes to the martyrs by placing a wreath at the altar of the National Memorial at Savar, on the outskirts of the capital city Dhaka, around 11am.
Flanked by the new cabinet colleagues, Sheikh Hasina, also placed another wreath at the altar of the National Memorial.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Thursday evening distributed ministries/divisions among the newly sworn in ministers and state ministers as per the Rule 3 (iv) under Rules of Business 1996.
Among them, some of the outgoing ministers who have been placed in the new cabinet. Newly appointed ministers and state ministers have been given the responsibility of various ministries and departments.
Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, elder daughter of the country founding father, today formed the government for the fourth consecutive term with a 37-member cabinet as she took oath as the prime minister for fifth term.
Her council of ministers included 25 ministers with two technocrats and 11 state ministers.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office and oath of secrecy to Sheikh Hasina and her new ministers at Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban at 7.06pm.
After the swearing-in, Sheikh Hasina signed the oath of office and oath of secrecy.
According to the sources of the Cabinet Department, among the full ministers, Mozammel Haque, Obaidul Quader, Asaduzzaman Khan, Anisul Haque, Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, Sadhan Chandra Majumdar, Faridul Haque Khan, Md. Tajul Islam, Yafes Osman (Technocrat) to Ministry of Science and Technology will take their previous ministry.
Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali has appointed as the new finance minister in the newly formed cabinet.
Among others, Muhammad Farooq Khan appointed as Civil Aviation Minister, Mohammad Hasan Mahmud as Foreign Minister, Dipu Moni as Social Welfare Minister, Abdus Salam as Planning Minister, Ram Ubaidul Moktadir Chowdhury as Housing and Public Works minister, Narayan Chandra Chand as Land minister, Jahangir Kabir Nanak as Textiles and Jute minister, Md. Abdur Rahman as Fisheries and Livestock minister, Md. Abdus Shahid as Agriculture minister and Samant Lal Sen (Technocrat) as Health and Family Planning minister.
Zillul Hakim has been assigned as the Railways minister and Saber Hossain Chowdhury as Environment, Forest and Climate Change minister.
Three previous state ministers have got full ministerial power.
Farhad Hossain appointed as Public Administration minister, Nazmul Hasan as Youth and Sports minister and Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury as Education minister.
Among the 11 state ministers, Nasrul Hamid got power department, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury has assigned to shipping ministry, Junaid Ahmed Palak has been appointed as the postal, telecommunication and information technology ministry, Zahid Farooq at water resources ministry, Simin Hossain Rimi at women and children affairs ministry, Kujendra Lal Tripura at Chittagong Hill Tracts affairs ministry, Mohibbur Rahman assigned at Disaster Management and Relief Ministry, Mohammad Ali Arafat at Information and Broadcasting ministry, Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury at Expatriate Welfare and Foreign Employment ministry, Rumana Ali at Primary and Mass Education ministry and Ahsanul Islam at Commerce Ministry.