THE cabinet of ministers of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party government sworn in on February 17 appears balanced as it has effected a mix of young faces for new thinking and the experienced for stability. The formation of the cabinet is, therefore, generally welcome. Yet, about half a dozen senior leaders of the party are conspicuously absent from the cabinet. And, a couple of tainted names alleged to have been mired in extortion and similar crimes have crept in. But the inclusion of Khalilur Rahman, who was the national security adviser to the chief of the interim government, in the cabinet as the foreign affairs minister appears mysterious. The appointment of Khalilur Rahman, the high representative of the interim government’s chief on Rohingya and priority issues who was also made the national security adviser on April 9, 2025, constitutes a conflict of interest on his part after having served the interim administration since November 18, 2024. This is unethical. This also constitutes political destitution on part of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which has not found a politician under its fold capable of being appointed foreign affairs minister. Besides, it was the Bangladesh Nationalist Party that in May 2025 demanded the removal of Khalilur Rahman as the national security adviser from the interim administration.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which put out the call for Khalilur Rahman’s removal, then described him as ‘controversial,’ noting that he was known as ‘an architect of the conspiracy to hand over corridors, channels and plots to foreigners.’ The Bangladesh Nationalist Party also said that people had begun asking whether Khalilur Rahman ‘worked in foreign interests.’ His appointment as the foreign affairs minister is, therefore, dubious and, hence, unacceptable. Meanwhile, the way the BNP leadership treated its partner in the alliance, offering positions of ministers of state — one for the finance and planning and the home affairs ministry and another for the labour and employment and the expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment ministry, at least for now, does not look well deserved. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, less than a week ago, said that it would form the government with partners in the street movements in the past. But making two partners in the alliance ministers of state does not signify partnership. It speaks of a superior-subordinate relation. Besides, it is imperative for the BNP government to effect reforms in state governance that came out in the July charter and in the recommendations of the 11 commissions that the interim government set up towards the end of 2024 even if after further review and assessment.
There could also be governance challenges that the government might face in the coming days. The BNP government must, therefore, proceed to meet the challenges with the new thinking and the experience that it has contained in the cabinet of ministers.
