The new ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers attended their offices on Tuesday morning, a day after being sworn-in to the cabinet.
A total of 47 ministers led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, including 27 newcomers, were sworn into the cabinet on Monday for what was effectively the formation of a new government.
Apart from the prime minister, there are 24 ministers, 19 state ministers, and three deputy ministers in the new cabinet.
On the occasion of joining of cabinet members, the offices of the newcomers were decorated earlier by the ministry officials while the offices of the incumbent cabinet members remain almost same. New nameplates were installed outside the office rooms.
Concerned ministry officials welcomed the ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers with flower bouquets while the cabinet members also shared their views with the journalists from different media.
‘Anarchy in the name of movement will not be tolerated’
BNP is free to wage a movement as it is a democratic right, but any attempt to cause anarchy would not be tolerated by the government, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said
"BNP can wage a movement in the coming days as it is a democratic right. However, if they want to unleash anarchy in the name of a movement, it will be dealt with an iron fist," the home minister said.
Citing continuation of suppression of militancy as government’s main challenge, he said: " “The government has a zero-tolerance policy against militancy. We have not allowed militancy to rear its ugly head, and we will not allow it in the future either.”
‘Commission to look into Bangabandhu killing’
The government will try to form a commission to identify perpetrators behind the killing of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq.
“It is not impossible by hard to bring back the killers of Bangabandhu and we are working on it. After the killing of 1975, the killers were sent abroad under state patronage. Some were established in the country too. After assuming power in 2001, Khaleda Zia government too sponsored the killers. Her principal secretary even went to airport to receive the body of killer Major Dalim’s wife,” Anisul said.
Information minister to tackle spreading 'fake news'
New Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has promised to crack down on online news portals who spread "fake news."
"There are a lot of online news portals now. Sometimes, they publish wrong news that can potentially defame individuals," he told reporters.
"I will deal with the issue with your [media and journalists] help," he added.
Newly appointed Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, right, being greeted with flowers at the Information Ministry on Tuesday Focus Bangla
New FM for achieving foreign policy goals
Newly appointed Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has sought collaboration and partnership from all to achieve the core foreign policy goals on the basis of trust and sovereignty.
“We need active collaboration and partnership. We need support from all. We need active initiatives. We need cooperation from friendly countries, too,” he told reporters adding that they want to work as a team as there are many challenges ahead.
‘Migration cost will go down’
Newly appointed state minister for Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment ministry Imran Ahmed said effective measures will be taken to lower the migration cost.
While exchanging views with the Reporters for Bangladeshi Migrants (RBM) at the Probashi Kalyan Bhaban in the city, he said steps will be taken to make a database of the workers who return home from different countries.
As instructed by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, necessary initiatives will be taken to ensure welfare of expats and also for continuation of the remittance flow in the country, he added.
‘Cheap internet first priority’
State Minister for Information and Communication Technology division Zunaid Ahmed Palak pledged to provide internet services to users as his first priority for the new term in office.
“If internet services can be delivered to users at an affordable price, it will create a confidence and the number of internet users will also rise,” said Palak.
State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak hitches a ride to office on a motorcycle on Tuesday, to avoid traffic jam, but absence of his helmet caused a social media storm Facebook
The state minister posted a picture on Facebook of himself going to office on a motorcycle. While many lauded him for the down-to-earth gesture, some criticized him for riding without a helmet. “Nobody is above the law. Respected minister please wear a helmet next time,” one commenter said.
‘Our goal is to provide uninterrupted power’
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid Bipu said his ministry’s primary goal is to ensure smooth and uninterrupted supply of electricity for the people of Bangladesh.
“We are aiming to diversify the country’s power sector. Accessibility has been satisfactory, and now the goal is to provide uninterrupted and smooth electricity supply,” he said at a meeting in Bidyut Bhaban in Dhaka.
Pledges and promises
Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Mustafa Jabbar has emphasized on implementing all the pledges made in election manifesto of Awami League.
“We have to achieve all the targets of the government within this tenure. We have the responsibility of turning the whole country and the government digital,” he said at his office in Agargaon.
Officials welcome newly appointed State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain with open arms at the Ministry on Tuesday Focus Bangla
Calling question paper leaks the main challenge for the ministry, newly appointed Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni urged everyone to work together as a team to implement the electoral pledges of the government.
Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Tajul Islam said all civic amenities would be extended to villages across the country.
"There will be surprises in the development of the infrastructure sector in the next five years. No corruption will be tolerated," he said while talking to reporters after joining office.
Newly appointed Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan said he will take necessary steps to make the service corruption free, in line with the government's zero tolerance policy against corruption.
On the other hand, Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossain, on his first day at office, expressed his willingness to make the ministry modern and efficient by preventing corruption and closing loopholes.
He also said that initiatives will be taken through discussions with the prime minister to resolve the salary issues of primary school teachers.
Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi said he wants to develop the textiles and jute sector utilizing his experiences in the industrial sector.
The minister expressed his willingness to create scopes for the young generation who are looking forward to them.
Newly appointed state minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism ministry urged everyone to work with honesty and integrity to flourish the tourism industry of Bangladesh.
“The Aircraft and airports are like the drawing room and gateway of a country… all should work sincerely to make them attractive and clean for a real sense of development of the country,” he told a meeting of the officials of his ministry at the secretariat.