Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expanded the cabinet this evening, with four ministers and two state ministers taking oath and several portfolios being reassigned.

Shortly after being sworn in as president, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir administered the oaths of office and secrecy to the six at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban.

BNP and government sources said senior BNP leader Abdul Moyeen Khan is likely to be appointed minister for local government, rural development and co-operatives (LGRD), a portfolio left vacant after Mirza Fakhrul resigned before assuming the presidency.

Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) Chairman Andaleeve Rahman Partho is likely to be appointed information and broadcasting minister, replacing Zahir Uddin Swapan. Swapan is expected to become an adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman with the rank of minister.

BNP’s Bandarban MP Saching Prue is likely to be appointed minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts affairs, a post that has remained vacant since Dipen Dewan’s resignation.

Shamim Kaiser Lincoln, the BNP lawmaker from Gaibandha-4, is likely to be appointed state minister for religious affairs.

Rashiduzzaman Millat, who took oath as a full minister, could be appointed minister for civil aviation and tourism. Meanwhile, incumbent minister Afroza Khanam Rita could be reassigned as food minister.

Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir could be appointed state minister for foreign affairs.