Bangladesh's New Prime Minister Tarique Rahman Forms 50-Member Cabinet, Signals Focus on Economy and Security

Dhaka. Following a massive electoral victory, Bangladesh's Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced a 50-member cabinet, signaling intentions to revive the crisis-ridden economy and confront regional and internal security challenges.

Rahman, who formally assumed responsibility from the interim administration that governed following the fatal uprising of 2024, unveiled the cabinet after taking office on Tuesday.

According to the list published in the official gazette on Tuesday night, 76-year-old Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has been assigned the responsibility of the Finance Ministry. Chowdhury, a former commerce minister and experienced lawmaker, has a background as a businessman.

He has been entrusted with the duty of restoring investor confidence in Bangladesh, known as the world's second-largest garment exporting nation, after months of political instability.

Chowdhury previously served in the cabinet of Prime Minister Rahman's late mother and three-time Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. However, he resigned after it became public that he had permitted a commercial office for Taiwan to open in Dhaka in 2004.

He has not made any public comment on that matter to date. During Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule, he was arrested multiple times on various charges, at a time when opposition leaders frequently alleged politically motivated prosecutions.

Prime Minister Rahman has taken charge of the Defense Ministry himself. He faces the responsibility of unifying a society polarized by years of political competition, improving the security situation, and confronting cross-border challenges. The new government is formed against a backdrop of high border tension with India and the ongoing conflict in Myanmar affecting border areas. Bangladesh currently hosts over one million Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar.

The Foreign Ministry portfolio has been given to experienced diplomat Khalilur Rahman. A former United Nations official, he studied at universities in Dhaka and the United States. During the caretaker government period, he managed the security division and collaborated on trade negotiations with the United States.

Maintaining regional balance amid strained relations with neighboring India and increasing engagement with Pakistan will be his primary challenge. India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar congratulated his counterpart and expressed commitment to advancing cooperation between the two countries.

Prime Minister Rahman is expected to chair his first cabinet meeting on Wednesday. The cabinet includes veteran politicians, former ministers, lawmakers, academics, and activists from various parties. With the formation of the new government, the mandate to revive the economy, strengthen social harmony, and balance regional relations has formally moved forward.