The government yesterday appointed Md Ataur Rahman Khan, an additional secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs, as secretary to the Ministry of Commerce.

The appointment became effective immediately, said a notification by the Ministry of Public Administration.

The appointment came more than a month after the position became vacant.

The then Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman died on April 17, reportedly from a malaria infection.

Since then, Additional Secretary of the Commerce Ministry Md Abdur Rahim Khan had been serving as secretary in charge of the commerce ministry.