Bangladesh Cabinet Sees Major Expansion: Six Months On, Performance Questions Remain
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s government has completed its first six months in office. At the start, the Prime Minister asked every ministry to submit a 180-day action plan. Many people believed these plans would be used to check the performance of ministries. Now, the government has made changes to the Cabinet.
This is more an expansion of the Cabinet than a full reshuffle. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has appointed four new ministers and two new state ministers. One minister’s job responsibilities have also changed. Another minister was removed from his post and made an adviser to the Prime Minister.
These changes mean the Cabinet has grown larger. There are now 51 Cabinet members. Additionally, 13 advisers and special assistants hold ranks equal to a minister or state minister. This brings the total number to 64. It is the second-largest Cabinet in Bangladesh’s history.
The public wonders if these changes are linked to the initial 180-day performance review. The government has not clearly stated its reasons. For example, the minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism was moved to the Ministry of Food. The state minister who worked under him became a full minister. It is not clear if these moves were based on performance.
Similar questions arose for the Ministry of Information. Its minister was removed from the Cabinet and became an adviser to the Prime Minister. People are asking if this was a promotion or a removal due to performance issues.
At its first meeting, the government set three main goals. These were controlling commodity prices, improving law and order, and ensuring proper electricity and fuel supply. After six months, the government has not fully succeeded in these areas. However, six months is a short time for a new government to fix all problems.
A larger Cabinet can sometimes create problems. It can slow down decision-making. It can also lead to a lack of coordination among different officials. Experts often suggest having a smaller, more efficient Cabinet. A past commission even proposed a Cabinet of 35 members.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has the power to choose his Cabinet members. He does not have to explain his reasons for changes. Yet, when the government itself talked about a six-month performance check, people expect to see that reflected. Without clear reasons, the changes appear simply as a Cabinet expansion.
