Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today expanded her cabinet by inducting a minister and five state ministers in the council of ministers formed on January 6.

A lawmaker from Madaripur, Shahjahan Khan has been appointed as a cabinet minister while Brig Gen (retd) Enamul Haque, Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, Advocate Promod Mankin, Mahbubur Rahman and Captain (retd) Mujibur Rahman Fakir as state ministers.

Shahjahan has been given the portfolio of shipping ministry while Sharmin Chowdhury was made state minister for women and children affairs, Promod Mankin state minister for cultural affairs, Enamul Haque state minister for power, energy and mineral resources, Mahbubur Rahman state minister for water resources and Mujibur Rahman state minister for health and family welfare. Of the state ministers, Enamul Huq hails from Shibganj, Chapainawabganj while Fakir from Gouripur, Mymensingh and Mujibur Rahman from Patuakhali. Mankin has been an MP in 1996, 2001 and 2006 from Mymensingh.

President Zillur Rahman administered their oath of office at Bangabhaban at about 11:30pm. Earlier at about 11:20am, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived at Bangabhaban and met with the president. Hasina also made little reshuffle in her council of ministers, finally excluding state minister for home affairs Tanjim Ahmad Sohel Taj, who was replaced by state minister for power, energy and mineral resources Shamsul Haque Tuku.

State minister for foreign affairs Hasan Mahmud has been replaced state minister for forest and environment Mustafizur Rahman Fizar who was made state minister for land. Shipping Minister Afsarul Amin has been given the Ministry of Primary And Mass Education. The council of ministers now has 25 ministers and 18 state ministers.

Earlier on January 24, six new faces were appointed to the cabinet of the Awami League-led grand alliance government. On January 6, the prime minister formed a 32-member council of ministers, dropping AL stalwarts and almost the entire policy-making presidium from the cabinet. This is the second expansion of the cabinet since the Awami League (AL)-led grand alliance government took over in January following a landslide victory in the December 29 national election.