August 9th 2024.
In a recent announcement, Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel laureate and 84-year-old leader, revealed the portfolios of the newly-appointed council of advisors in Bangladesh. He has taken charge of 27 ministries, including defence, and has also named career diplomat Mohammad Touhid Hossain as the head of the foreign ministry.
This decision comes after Sheikh Hasina, the previous leader, abruptly resigned and fled to India amidst protests against her government's controversial quota system in jobs. Yunus was then sworn in as the chief advisor, a position equivalent to that of a prime minister. The selection of other advisors was done in consultation with student leaders, military officials, and representatives of civil society.
According to an official announcement, Yunus will oversee a broad range of ministries, including those of defence, public administration, education, energy, food, water resources, and information. Hossain, the former foreign secretary, has been entrusted with the charge of the foreign ministry, while retired Army brigadier general M Sakhawat Hossain will oversee the home ministry.
Former Bangladesh Bank governor Salahuddin Ahmed will be in charge of the finance and planning ministries, and former attorney general A F Hassan Arif will oversee the local government ministry. Additionally, two coordinators of the Students Against Discrimination group, M Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, have been given the charge of the telecommunications and information technology ministry and the youth and sports ministry, respectively.
This interim government was installed after a public upsurge, led by the student group Students Against Discrimination, which advocated for the reform of the quota system for government jobs. This movement was initially a street protest but eventually resulted in the ousting of Hasina's 15-year regime and the installation of the interim government, visibly backed by the military.
While three members of the advisors' council were unable to take the oath on Thursday night at the presidential palace, it is presumed that Yunus may distribute some of the 27 portfolios to them. The selection of advisors and the distribution of portfolios has been a carefully thought-out process, taking into account the opinions and recommendations of various groups and individuals.
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