Staff Correspondent

One and a half months into the formation of the new government, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is going to expand her cabinet with some new faces likely to take oath on Friday.

New ministers and state ministers may be sworn in at Bangabhaban this evening, said reliable sources at the presidential palace and Cabinet Division.

However, if the oath-taking ceremony does not take place Friday for any reason, it will be held Saturday, the sources added.

There is no confirmed report of how many new faces will be inducted into the cabinet.

In reply to a query from journalists, Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain on Thursday said, “Till now, I’ve no information in this regard.”

A Cabinet Division official told the Daily Sun, on condition of anonymity, that the Cabinet Division secretary went to Ganabhaban on Thursday afternoon to meet the prime minister.

The premier will inform him of the number of new faces to be inducted into the cabinet and afterwards, the Cabinet secretary will invite them over the phone to take the oath.

Around 7pm on Thursday, a Bangabhaban official told the Daily Sun, “We’re yet to be formally informed of the oath-taking ceremony of the new ministers. It is presumed that the oath-taking ceremony of new ministers and state ministers will be held on Friday evening. Accordingly, we’re making preparations.”

On condition of not to be named, the official said if the oath-taking ceremony is not held today for any reason, it will be held tomorrow evening. “The reason is that President Mohammed Shahabuddin will leave for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday noon.”

Apart from the appointment of a new state minister for finance, labour and employment and cultural affairs ministries each, there is a likelihood of the appointment of a state minister for health and family welfare ministry.

Besides, a full minister may be appointed for the Ministry of Commerce. State ministers or deputy ministers may be appointed for the ministries where there are only ministers. One state minister each may be appointed for the ministries where there are two divisions. A state minister may be appointed for each and every division.

Beyond this, one or two existing ministers may see a change in their portfolios. A rumour is rife that a minister may be excluded from the cabinet.

If the new ministers and state ministers take oath today, the cabinet will be expanded after one month and 18 days. Following her victory in the 12th parliamentary election, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formed a 37-member cabinet comprised of 25 full ministers and 11 state ministers on 11 January.

After the formation of a comparatively smaller cabinet, there was a rumour of probable expansion of the cabinet. Since election of women’s reserved seats, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader also hinted at the expansion of the cabinet.

The government published a gazette notification on 28 February after 50 women were elected in reserved seats uncontested. Taking oath on Wednesday, they also joined the parliament session.

Following her victory in the Jatiya Sangsad polls, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formed a 47-member cabinet on 7 January 2019 in her last tenure. There were 24 full ministers, 19 state ministers and three deputy ministers in the previous cabinet.