Prime Minister Tarique Rahman Signals Potential Cabinet Shifts, New Legal Panel to Tackle Online Misinformation
The future of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s cabinet could see changes, with ministers potentially reassigned or new faces appointed. This was indicated by Zahed Ur Rahman, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Information and Broadcasting, during a press briefing on Tuesday. The adviser confirmed that the Prime Minister holds the authority to make such adjustments if he finds any member of his team is not meeting expectations.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman established his government on February 17. His cabinet currently comprises 24 full ministers and 23 state ministers, in addition to himself. There are also 10 advisers, holding ranks equivalent to minister or state minister. Under the established Rules of Business, the Prime Minister is solely responsible for assigning roles and ministries to his team.
When asked about the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle within the government’s first 180 days, Zahed Ur Rahman stated that the exact timing remains uncertain. He explained that from his personal conversations with the Prime Minister, it is clear that decisions will be made based on performance. The primary goal of the government, he stressed, is to serve the public effectively. If the Prime Minister believes a different decision would better benefit the people, he will take it.
In a separate key announcement, the Information Adviser also revealed that the government is forming a specialized panel of lawyers. This group will be tasked with overseeing legal matters related to cyberbullying and the spread of false information online. A formal government notification establishing this panel is expected to be issued sometime this week.
During the press conference, held at the Secretariat, Zahed Ur Rahman also spoke about other recent activities undertaken by the government. Syed Abdal Ahmed, the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Information, was also present at the briefing.
