Two more special assistants appointed to prime minister

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has appointed two more special assistants. Among the newly appointed, S M Ziauddin Hyder has been made special assistant on health affairs with the rank of state minister. Meanwhile, Md Saimum Parvez has been appointed as special assistant on environment, forest and climate change affairs with the rank of secretary.

Separate notifications from the Cabinet Division and the Ministry of Public Administration on Wednesday confirmed the information. According to the notifications, Ziauddin Hyder has been assigned responsibilities under the Rules of Business. Saimum Parvez has been appointed on a contractual basis for one year.

Earlier on April 2, four special assistants to the prime minister were appointed. Among them, two received the rank of state minister, one received the rank of secretary, and another received grade-2 rank. Bijon Kanti Sarkar was made special assistant on Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and ethnic minority affairs with state minister rank, and Tanvir Gani was appointed special assistant on investment and capital market affairs.

Additionally, Md Shakirul Islam Khan was appointed as special assistant on overseas employment in the Asia-Pacific region with secretary rank, and Md Sayed Bin Abdullah was appointed as special assistant on youth employment with grade-2 rank on a contractual basis.

Following the BNP's landslide victory in the 13th National Parliamentary Election, a 50-member cabinet led by Tarique Rahman was sworn in on February 17. Portfolios of ministers and state ministers have since been reshuffled in several phases.

The current cabinet led by the prime minister has 49 members. Apart from the prime minister, there are 25 full ministers and 23 state ministers. Additionally, there are 10 advisers to the prime minister with the rank of minister and state minister. Furthermore, three special assistants with the rank of state minister are now serving.