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With only a year left in her government's tenure, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday reshuffled the cabinet in an apparent bid to reshape an administration plagued with a number of problems.
The shake-up came following the induction of seven new members in her council of ministers last Thursday. It saw nobody axed despite growing public demand for the poor performers to be dropped.
Hasina, who leads the AL-led alliance government now in crises stemming from issues like the stockmarket scam, graft allegations in the Padma bridge project and Hall-Mark loan fiasco, replaced Home Minister Shahara Khatun with newly appointed Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir.
Shahara seems fortunate. Despite controversies over her various remarks and near failure in improving law and order, she was awarded the posts and telecommunications, removing Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju.
The shuffle surprised many in the fastest growing sector.
Raju, who held the portfolio since Hasina took office in January 2009, was moved to the labour and employment ministry which had been under Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain for the past four years.
Mosharraf is now expatriate welfare and overseas employment minister.
Newly appointed Mujibul Hoque, who was a whip in parliament, will lead the railways ministry, created in January through splitting the communications ministry.
Veteran AL leader Suranjit Sengupta was earlier appointed rail minister. But he was made a minister without portfolio following the April midnight recovery of Tk 70 lakh from his assistant personal secretary. Obaidul Quader then filled the position.
Another surprise is the information and communication technology (ICT) ministry. Mostafa Faruque Mohammad, one of the newest faces in the cabinet, has been assigned the job.
This ministry was formed by dividing the science and ICT ministry and by placing Syed Abul Hossain at the helm.
Abul was removed from the communications ministry in December following the World Bank's allegation of his link with a "conspiracy of corruption" in the bridge project.
Abul even had to quit the cabinet in July to meet a WB condition for its loan to the project. Interestingly, Mostafa Faruque is a former managing director of SAHCO, a company owned by Abul.
Through yesterday's reshuffle, the food and disaster management ministry was bifurcated, with its boss Abdur Razzak given charge of food, and newly appointed Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali the disaster management and relief ministry.
The two ministries were merged into one during the past BNP-led government.
Newly appointed Hasanul Haq Inu, chief of AL ally Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, is now the new information minister. The post was never given to anybody who did not belong to a leading component of an alliance government.
Contacted over the phone, Inu said he would try his best to ensure the neutrality of the state-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar, traditionally misused as the government mouthpiece.
AL MP Abul Kalam Azad, who was information minister, will run the cultural affairs ministry.
Two newly made state ministers -- Abdul Hyee and Omar Faruk Chowdhury -- were sent to the ministries of fisheries and livestock, and industries respectively.
After a landslide victory in 2008 parliamentary polls, Sheikh Hasina formed her team comprising 23 ministers and eight state ministers, dropping most of the AL stalwarts and making surprising picks.
On January 24, 2009, she inducted six more fresh faces to the band -- a minister and five state ministers -- and reshuffled ten portfolios.
Hasina again on November 28, 2010 expanded her cabinet by inducting Suranjit Sengupta and Obaidul Quader.
Sunday, September 16, 2012 12:54 AM GMT+06:00 (605 weeks ago)
Shahara Khatun was unfit and a misfit for the Home Ministry. She had neither qualification nor experience to effectively run ministry. Sheikh Hasina understands the urgency of reshuffling a corruption ridden Home Ministry. I don't think that she was personally corrupt. In my humble judgment, her poor performance as the Home Minister is one the glaring failures of Sheikh Hasina's Government.
The replacement of incompetent Shahara Khatun by a competent civil servant Dr. Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir's stature seems to be an admirable step towards a right direction. Let us hope for the best.
Sunday, September 16, 2012 01:05 AM GMT+06:00 (605 weeks ago)
Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir is a highly controversial figure. His parliamentary membership was cancelled by the HC though an appeal and it was restored by the SC. Instead of law and order improving, there is every possibility that it will get worse. His appointment is a deep disappointment and one of dismay for democracy.
Sunday, September 16, 2012 01:06 AM GMT+06:00 (605 weeks ago)
Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir is a highly controversial figure. His parliamentary membership was cancelled by the HC though an appeal and it was restored by the SC. Instead of law and order improving, there is every possibility that it will get worse. His appointment is a deep disappointment and one of dismay for democracy.
Sunday, September 16, 2012 02:10 AM GMT+06:00 (605 weeks ago)
A reshuffle was long time coming and welcome. However, ministers like the finance and industries could have changed for stronger performers. Mostafa Faruque and Abul come from the same stables and let's hope their performance is not the same too. Perhaps MKA could have been given the finance but I am sure he will do well in Home ministry. Good luck!
Sunday, September 16, 2012 02:52 AM GMT+06:00 (605 weeks ago)
We think the outcome will be zero except adding more expenses to the public exchequer by creating more ministries. MK with his questionable background will perhaps do worse than her predecessor. There is absolutely nothing to hope for the poor nation.
Sunday, September 16, 2012 04:20 AM GMT+06:00 (605 weeks ago)
Controversial Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir is not right choice for minister. His actions are questionable to public? His parliament membership also is in question.
Sunday, September 16, 2012 04:27 AM GMT+06:00 (605 weeks ago)
This minister remains as MP even though his membership is void by the SC. How we can trust him as minister?
Sunday, September 16, 2012 05:26 AM GMT+06:00 (605 weeks ago)
It is too late to replace Shahara......but done.
Sunday, September 16, 2012 06:04 AM GMT+06:00 (605 weeks ago)
Home Ministry is vital that stable the country by applying law and order in odd even. But our bitter experience said each government run this Ministry with their party volition. Even Former Minister Sahara was not exception. Whoever gets this post willy-nilly they have been toed the party line instead of our clause of constitutions. We don't expect any novelty from Mohiuddin Alamgir as Sahara's performance discomforted us time and again with off the mark.
Sunday, September 16, 2012 08:22 AM GMT+06:00 (605 weeks ago)
I think MK Alamgir will be a much better Home Minister than his predecessor.
Sunday, September 16, 2012 08:57 AM GMT+06:00 (605 weeks ago)
Thanks to the Prime Minster for reshuffling the cabinet, especially Home Ministry although it is too late. MKA has long experiences in conducting administration as civil servant as he is absolutely appropriate person for this position. Moreover, he made divide and rule policy within administration in the past which leads to the negative results for the nation. We do hope he will extend better services to the nation for rest of the govt tenure.
Sunday, September 16, 2012 11:02 AM GMT+06:00 (605 weeks ago)
It is tough for us to grasp that PM selected ministers in maintaining which criteria that best fits for listing down. MKA is not out of the controversy. PM knows well despite that she nominates him in the last moment of the government.
Sunday, September 16, 2012 09:17 AM GMT+06:00 (605 weeks ago)
This Mohouddin Khan Alamgir put former state minister for education into jail by framing a false case of stealing the bag of his wife. What will Mr. Alamgir do now?
Sunday, September 16, 2012 10:41 AM GMT+06:00 (605 weeks ago)
A bureaucrat turned politician who led the infamous 'Janatar Mancha', a blatant interference by civil servants into active politics, is now being rewarded with Cabinet membership. Just few months back he was awarded with permits for a commercial bank and a private university. All these will encourage events like 'Janatar Mancha' & 'Uttara Conspiracy'. It seems political parties are becoming too much reliable on retired bureaucrats and military men, which is not a good sign for this nation.
Sunday, September 16, 2012 12:50 AM GMT+06:00 (605 weeks ago)
It is wise to replace Shahara from home ministry but we have to wait and see. How fruitful the decision of taking MK Alamgir as Home minister will be.