Bangladesh's BNP Set to Form New Government with Younger Leaders

After securing a sweeping majority in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party is all set to form a cabinet representing the new government. Ahead of announcing the name of the cabinet, the newly elected government has already published the official gazette listing the elected members of parliament. According to Article 148 of the Constitution of Bangladesh, elected representatives must take the oath within three days of the publication of the official results. In light of this, the oath-taking ceremony is scheduled to take place on Tuesday. Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed confirmed the schedule at a press briefing on Saturday, The Dhaka Tribune reported. While former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman is set to assume the prime ministerial role after the government is formed, many are expecting the cabinet to be filled with skilled leaders. Sources told The Dhaka Tribune that the party plans to assign key responsibilities to younger and highly educated leaders. BNP is reportedly eying to form a government which is a blend of senior and new leadership, which is expected in important ministries such as Home Affairs, Law, Finance, and Foreign Affairs. As per the report, several BNP policymakers have indicated that the cabinet will not be overly large. It is expected to consist of between 32 and 42 members. According to The Dhaka Tribune, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has already begun consultations with senior leaders regarding the formation of the cabinet. However, the allocation of specific ministries will be known only after the oath ceremony. BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said the “nation will need to wait a little longer to see the final shape of the cabinet.” According to The Dhaka Tribune, BNP Joint Secretary General Humayun Kabir’s name is being discussed for the post of Foreign Minister. Dr Reza Kibria is being considered for the position of Finance Minister. It is pertinent to note that Dr Kibria has previously served as a senior economist at the International Monetary Fund. Meanwhile, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury is being considered for the Commerce Ministry, a position he held in the past. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is being discussed for the Local Government Ministry. He has previously served as State Minister for Agriculture and later for Civil Aviation and Tourism. However, these names are speculations as of now, and there’s no confirmation from BNP on who will be given what portfolio. Denmark’s PM Mette Frederiksen reaffirmed that Greenland is not for sale and emphasized respect for sovereignty and self-determination. US President Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland persists, citing Arctic security, but Danish leaders have firmly rejected the idea. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer highlighted the importance of Arctic stability and called for a pragmatic, sovereignty-respecting approach. Get the latest stories delivered straight to your inbox.