Awami League’s alliance partners are still hopeful of getting cabinet berths while the party in power also hinted at considering the allies’ representation in the cabinet in the future.
Three other terms that Awami League served in the government in various periods between 1996 and 2018 saw some representations from the party’s allies in the cabinets; but this time around it is an all-AL affair.
Recovering from initial shocks and surprises, the leaders of other parties in the AL-led 14-party alliance said it was not all over; their turns may come in the future.
General Secretary of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD) Shirin Akter said they will wait to see, as good news may come in future.
Awami League Joint General Secretary Abdur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune: "Cabinet is not a permanent thing. If the need arises for inclusion of ally members in cabinet, we may consider it in future."
He negates any possibility of a distance developing between parties over this issue.
Awami League presidium member and 14-party alliance spokesperson Mohammad Nasim said that the AL allies have nothing to worry about."It will take time. Every ally will be considered to be included in the cabinet in future."
Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, along with 46 members of her new cabinet took oath on Monday that includes ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers – all drawn from AL.
After 1973, this is for the first time the country got a cabinet that includes all members solely from Awami League.
The ruling party led first cabinet in 1996 included two ally members, four members in 2008, and six in 2014.
Water Resources minister in the immediate past cabinet Jatiya Party (JP) chairman Anwar Hossain Manju said formation of cabinet is the prime minister’s prerogative.
Workers Party Bangladesh chief, a minister in the last cabinet, Rashed Khan Menon also echoed Manju.
Former state minister for Labour Mujibul Haque Chunnu, a Jatiya Party (JaPa) presidium member, said the party chairman H M Ershad decided not to let any party lawmaker inducted into the cabinet.
JaPa chairman HM Ershad on January 4 said his party will serve as the main opposition in the 11th National Parliament and no lawmakers from the party will be part of the new cabinet.
Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, meanwhile, made it clear that “There was no such condition to hand out ministries when the coalition was formed.” He also assured of resolving any misunderstanding centering non-inclusion of alliance members in the new cabinet.