Kazi Zahidul Hasan :
As the Awami League Chief Sheikh Hasina swept to power for the fourth term winning Sunday’s general election, all eyes are now on her cabinet choice which analysts say will sheds some light on her leadership style.
In her third term, she headed 50 members Council of Ministers (31 cabinet Ministers, 17 State Ministers and two Deputy Ministers) formed after her party’s win in the 2014 General Election, which was held on 5 January 2014.
This time, Sheikh Hasina may little bit trim down the size of her Council of Ministers bringing it to about 45, informed sources said.
She is expected to announce her new cabinet team next week, comprising old and new faces.
Informed sources said, Sheikh Hasina is likely to accommodate most of her previous senior cabinet collogues in the new cabinet along with new faces. But upset may be waiting for two senior ministers in her previous cabinet.
The number of new ministers could be seven to eight. Of them, two are former BGMEA leaders while two are ruling party leaders of Barguna and Satkhira, one is former Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) General Secretary and another is former Chief Engineer of LGED.
All of them have been elected as Members of Parliament (MPs) in Sunday’s general election.
The Awami League led ‘Grand Alliance’ won 288 seats in the 300 seat Parliament, securing an absolute majority. The MP-elects will be sworn in the Parliament at 11am on Thursday. The Election Commission has already published a gazette incorporating the names of the newly elected 298 MPs.
Sources said, Sheikh Hasina is likely to induct four ‘technocrat’ ministers in her new cabinet.
She may be inducted former Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Prof Dr Pran Gopal Dutta, Advocate Md Sohrab Uddin (former MP of Kishoregonj-2), AFM Bahauddin Nasim (former MP of Madaripur-3) and Advocate Nurjahan Begum Mukta in her council of ministers under the technocrat quota.
Sheikh Hasina, who earlier promised to usher in a new era of economic growth in Bangladesh, four of her party men seen in line to be the country’s next Finance Minister.
Speculation also run high that Sheikh Hasina may assign incumbent Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal as the new Finance Minister of the ruling Awami League (AL) paving the way for retirement of incumbent Finance Minister AMA Muhith.
Former Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Mohammed Farashuddin and Prime Minister’s Economic Affairs Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman are also lined up for the same post.
Dr Farashuddin finally may be given the charge of the Planning Ministry; sources said, adding that if somehow she does not have faith on them, she may again assign AMA Muhith as Finance Minister in technocrat quota.
He may be served the post up to presenting AL’s next budget. Portfolios of other senior incumbent ministers are expected to remain same in Hasina’s new cabinet.
During her first tenure, Sheikh Hasina headed an 18 members council of ministers following her party’s victory in 1996 general election, while the number was 43 in her second term in the government following the win in 2008 general election.
“Her choice of cabinet would indicate how her administration is likely to perform. We expect she (Sheikh Hasina) will take a pragmatic approach in appointing her cabinet members,” said former finance adviser to the caretaker government Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam.
He said, ‘Competent people and genuine leaders should be included in her cabinet for better governance style for all Bangladeshis.
