Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government on August 5 amid a mass uprising, an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus assumed office on August 8 with 17 advisers, and four new advisers were sworn in at 4pm on Friday.
The new advisors are economist Wahiduddin Mahmud, former Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumder, Dr Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, and Lt General (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. President Md Shahabuddin will administer the oath.
The portfolios of the newly sworn-in four advisers were announced on Friday
Wahiduddin Mahmud has been given the charges of the Ministry Planning and the Ministry of Education while Ali Imam Majumder has been attached to the Chief Adviser's Office, according to a handout of the Chief Adviser's Office.
Dr Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan has been given the charges of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges and the Ministry of Railways, while Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has been given the charges of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture.
Profiles of the New Advisers:
Wahiduddin Mahmud
Born in 1948 in Noakhali, Wahiduddin Mahmud is a renowned economist. He earned his BA (Honors) in Economics from Dhaka University, where he graduated first in his class, and later obtained a PhD in Economics from Cambridge University.
He served as a professor at Dhaka University until his retirement in 2011.
He also played a key role in the 1996 caretaker government as the Adviser of Finance and Planning.
Mahmud is currently a member of the UN Committee for Development Policy and the chairman of the South Asian Network of Economic Research Institutes.
Ali Imam Majumder
A former Cabinet Secretary, Majumder was born in 1950.
He held key positions during his career, including as secretary of the Establishment Ministry under the alliance government and Cabinet Secretary during the military-backed caretaker government led by Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed.
He has also served on the Trustee Board of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
On August 12, Dr Muhammad Yunus appointed him as his Special Assistant.
Dr Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan
An expert in energy policy, Dr Fawzul Kabir Khan served as the Secretary of the Power Division under the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources from 2007 to 2008.
He has extensive experience in tax and regulatory issues, infrastructure financing, and renewable energy.
He has worked with various international organizations, including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
Dr Fawzul Kabir is also a former faculty member at North South University and currently serves as an independent director at United Power.
Lt General (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury
A former military officer, Lt General Chowdhury served as the Director General of Bangladesh Rifles (now BGB) from 2003 to 2006 and later as the principal staff officer of the Bangladesh Army.
He played a key role in leading the investigation into the 2009 BDR mutiny. After retiring from the army in 2010, he has been involved in various advisory roles.
These four advisors will join the existing team to support the interim government in its efforts to steer the country during this transitional period.