Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to induct some new faces in her cabinet today, aiming at making the government more efficient to build a smart Bangladesh with non-stop progress and free from corruption.
Sources in the Cabinet Division say that some eight state ministers may take oath at any time.
Of them, some three to four female lawmakers may take oath as state ministers, they say, adding that they have already taken all sorts of preparations in this regard.
The sworn-in ceremony may take place on Friday evening or Saturday morning as the President Mohammed Shahabuddin is scheduled to fly to London for medical treatment.
Several names, including former state minister for labour and employment Munnujan Sufian, former information and broadcasting state minister Tarana Halim and AL finance and planning secretary Waseqa Ayesha Khan have been in the air. Apart from those names,
former state minister for planning Shamsul Alam and noted singer Rezwana Chowdhury Bannya may be inducted in the cabinet under the technocrat quota.
After winning the January 7 general elections with absolute majority, Awami League president Sheikh Hasina on January 11 took oath as Prime Minister for the fourth consecutive term and formed the 37-member cabinet comprises 25 ministers and 11 state ministers.
Many heavyweights, who served the previous government, have been dropped from this cabinet.
AL sources said that the premier may appoint state ministers in the ministries of labour and employment, planning, finance, fisheries and livestock, LGRD, health and post, telecommunications and information technology.
On February 12, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader hinted at the expansion of the cabinet after the election of parliamentary seats reserved for women.
“If the size of the cabinet increases, cabinet members may be appointed to lead the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs,” he said, adding that those elected from reserved women's seats could take on the positions.