Newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today directed ministers and state ministers to prioritise the best interests of the people.

He gave the directives while presiding over his first cabinet meeting at the Secretariat, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam told reporters after the meeting.

Tarique primarily focused on the mandate entrusted to the government by the people, she said.

He also emphasised that each ministry should carry out its responsibilities diligently and comprehensively on behalf of the public.

“We have been elected by the people to stand by their side and serve them faithfully,” Obaed said, quoting the prime minister.

The prime minister further instructed that all ministries must uphold the electoral promises made to the people, as well as the commitments pledged by the BNP and ensure that their work reflects those commitments, she added.

The meeting that started at 3:00pm, lasted for an hour, sources at the PMO said.

As prime minister, Tarique visited the Secretariat for the first time today. For over a decade, almost all cabinet and secretaries’ meetings were held at the Prime Minister’s Office.

After the cabinet meeting, a secretaries’ meeting was held 4:00pm.

Through these engagements, the new prime minister formally began work at his designated office in the Secretariat for the first time.