Bangladesh's new government formed

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-06 23:33

DHAKA - Bangladesh's new Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Tuesday evening formed her 31-member cabinet to rule the country for next five years.

Bangladesh's President Iajuddin Ahmed administered the oath of office to Hasina, also president of major party Awami League, and her new cabinet members at Bangabhaban (President House) Tuesday evening.

Of the 31-member cabinet, 23 are ministers and eight state ministers.

Ministers include former Finance Minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhit, former Agriculture Minister Matia Chowhdury, former Air Chief AK Khandaker and President of Supreme Court Bar Association Shafique Ahmed.

However, the portfolios of the ministers and state ministers were not immediately allocated.

Awami League front-ranking leaders who were in the Hasina's previous government in 1996-2001 were dropped from the new cabinet. New and young faces dominate the cabinet.

Hasina, 61, ruled the country as prime minister during the 1996- 2001 tenure.

Hasina, the eldest daughter of country's founding leader and first President slain Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, is the only leader of the Awami League becoming the prime minister twice since the party was founded in 1948.

The Awami League-led 15-party grand alliance swept the crucial parliament election held on December 29, 2008, securing 262 seats in the 300-seat parliament while Awami League got 230 seats alone.

On January 3, Hasina was elected Leader of the House (leader of the majority party) by Awami League Parliamentary Party. She was later invited by the President on January 5 to form the new cabinet.

Political analysts said Hasina assumed the office amidst high expectations of the people that the new government will bring changes to the country's development.

Awami League has made pledges to avoid economy depression, ensure food and energy security, bring down food prices and poverty, curb corruption in its ambitious election manifesto "Charter for Change."

Hasina earlier said bringing down poverty and spiraling prices of essentials within the purchasing capacity of commoners are the first tasks for her government.