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Bangladesh's New Cabinet: Tarique Rahman Takes Key Portfolios, Appoints Foreign Minister

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has assigned portfolios to the 50 members of his new cabinet following the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's decisive victory in the 2026 general election. Key appointments include former national security advisor Khalilur Rahman as Foreign Minister and Shama Obaid as State Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Prime Minister himself will oversee the Cabinet Division, the Ministry of Defense, and the Armed Forces Division. The election marked a major political shift, ending Sheikh Hasina's long dominance, though the exclusion of key parties and reform debates signal ongoing challenges.

Key Points: Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman Appoints Cabinet, Key Ministers Named

  • BNP wins decisive 2026 election victory
  • Khalilur Rahman appointed Foreign Minister
  • PM Tarique Rahman to oversee defense and cabinet
  • New government faces significant political challenges
2 min read

Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman appoints Khalilur Rahman as Foreign Minister

New Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman allocates ministries, names Khalilur Rahman as Foreign Minister and outlines major cabinet appointments after BNP's 2026 election victory.

"The elections were competitive and orderly - Rohana Hettiarachchie"

Dhaka, February 18

The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman, has assigned portfolios to the 50 members of his cabinet.

Among them, former national security advisor Khalilur Rahman, from the previous interim government of Muhammad Yunus, has been given the role of foreign minister, while another senior BNP leader, who was previously a member of BNP's international affairs subcommittee, Shama Obaid, has been appointed as State Minister for Foreign Affairs.

After the allocation of the ministerial roles, the government issued an official order announcing that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would take responsibility for three ministries: the Cabinet Division, the Ministry of Defense, and the Armed Forces Division.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was given the responsibility of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, The role of Finance and Planning Minister was assigned to BNP's Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, and BNP Joint Secretary General Saluddin Ahmed was given the role of Minister of Home Affairs.

The 2026 Bangladesh general election, held on 12 February 2026, marked a major political shift in the country's history.

After years of upheaval culminating in the 2024 uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won a decisive victory, capturing over 200 seats in the 300-member Jatiya Sangsad and securing a strong parliamentary majority.

Tarique Rahman, son of former leaders Khaleda Zia and Ziaur Rahman, returned from years in exile to lead the BNP to power and has been sworn in as Prime Minister, ending Hasina's long dominance.

The elections were accompanied by a constitutional referendum and saw increased representation of minority candidates. Voter turnout was relatively high, and Rohana Hettiarachchie, Executive Director of People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) described the polls as competitive and orderly. However, the exclusion of key parties like the Awami League and tensions over reform debates mean significant political challenges remain ahead.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Interesting to see Khalilur Rahman, from the Yunus interim govt, getting Foreign Affairs. His experience could be crucial for navigating regional diplomacy, especially with India and China.
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Priya S
The PM holding Defense, Cabinet Division, AND Armed Forces is a lot of power concentrated in one hand. Hope the democratic institutions are strong enough. Wishing our Bangladeshi brothers and sisters well.
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Vikram M
As an Indian, our main concern is continuity on issues like connectivity, trade, and border management. Hope the new Foreign Minister prioritizes a constructive relationship. The Teesta water sharing agreement needs to move forward.
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Rohit P
Respectfully, the article mentions the exclusion of key parties like Awami League. A government that doesn't include major political voices might face legitimacy challenges internally. Stability is key for regional cooperation.
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Kavya N
Good to see a high voter turnout and a peaceful transition described as 'orderly'. Democracy in our neighborhood strengthens all of South Asia. Hope the new cabinet focuses on development and people's welfare.

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