Dhaka/Panjab Post
In a significant reshuffle following recent political unrest, Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus has announced the formation of a new government, assuming control of an unprecedented 27 ministries, including the crucial defence portfolio. Yunus, who took office as chief advisor on Thursday, succeeding Sheikh Hasina, also named career diplomat Mohammad Touhid Hossain as the head of the foreign ministry.
The appointment of Yunus, an 84-year-old Nobel laureate, came after Hasina’s sudden resignation and subsequent departure to India amidst violent protests over a disputed job quota system. Yunus’s new role as chief advisor is akin to that of a prime minister.
Yunus’s extensive portfolio encompasses major ministries such as defence, public administration, education, energy, food, water resources, and information. His leadership marks a strategic shift as Bangladesh navigates through this period of transition.
The interim government also includes several key figures: Mohammad Touhid Hossain, a former foreign secretary, has been appointed to lead the foreign ministry. Retired Army brigadier general M. Sakhawat Hossain has been assigned to oversee the home ministry.
Former Bangladesh Bank governor Salahuddin Ahmed will manage the finance and planning ministries, while former attorney general A. F. Hassan Arif will head the local government ministry. In a move reflecting the recent protests, two coordinators from the Students Against Discrimination—M. Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud—have been given leadership roles in telecommunications and information technology and youth and sports, respectively.
The interim cabinet’s formation follows consultations with student leaders, military officials, and civil society representatives, aiming to address the unrest and stabilize the nation.
