Many may be dropped from the cabinet, new discussions are underway on names
The first six months of the BNP government will be completed on August 16. Keeping this in mind, intensive discussions are underway on cabinet reshuffle. Government and party sources claim that there may be a major reshuffle in the cabinet based on the evaluation of the performance, image and performance of the ministers in the last six months. There is a possibility of some ministers and state ministers being dropped, as well as new faces being added.
Sources related to the Prime Minister’s Office said that a review is underway inside and outside the government on the activities of the ministers in the last six months. The speed of work of various ministries, administrative efficiency, involvement with the people and their role in protecting the image of the government are being evaluated. It is learned that special discussions are underway on ministers who are involved in unnecessary controversies or have not been able to show the expected performance.
Sources said that the performance of 24 ministers and 24 state ministers is currently being evaluated. Based on the results of that evaluation, there may be a reshuffle in the cabinet. At the same time, the responsibilities of some important ministries may be redistributed and the size of the cabinet may be increased if necessary.
It is also learnt that discussions are underway to include technocrats, additional advisors and experienced political figures at the top levels of the government. In addition, the issue of giving responsibilities to young MPs and party leaders with a clean image is being considered.
According to political sources, the names of BNP standing committee members Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr. Abdul Moin Khan and Selima Rahman are being discussed as possible cabinet members if no new nominations are made for the posts of President or Speaker.
In addition, the names of BNP Media Cell Convener Professor Dr. Moudud Hossain Alamgir Pavel, Prime Minister’s Advisor and BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Chairman’s Advisor Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, Jatiya Sangsad Whip ABM Ashraf Uddin Nijan and Rakibul Islam Bakul are also being discussed in various quarters.
Discussions are also underway to include some leaders of the government’s allies and like-minded parties in the cabinet. The names of Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna, MP-member Barrister Andaliv Rahman Partha, Shahadat Hossain Selim and General Secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party Saiful Haque have emerged from various sources in this list.
Sources related to the Cabinet Division said that at least 12 ministers and state ministers are currently working in multiple ministries. The government believes that the normal functioning of some ministries is being disrupted due to additional responsibilities. Due to this, the issue of redistribution of responsibilities is also gaining importance.
Government sources claimed that the progress of implementing the election manifesto, resolving administrative complications, initiatives taken to reduce the suffering of the common people, control over the field administration, ability to make quick decisions and active participation in the National Parliament are being taken into consideration in the evaluation of ministers.
A member of the BNP standing committee who is in the cabinet said that several ministers are struggling to handle multiple ministries. In this regard, one or two state ministers are showing relatively good ‘performance’. If the cabinet is reshuffled, they too may become full ministers. Besides, one or two members of parliament and leaders of BNP and like-minded parties may get new places in the cabinet under the technocrat quota. The Prime Minister will take a well-considered decision in this regard.
