New govt sets 3 priorities, adopts 180-day action plan

The newly formed government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, on Wednesday set three immediate priorities – keeping commodity prices under control, improving law and order, and ensuring uninterrupted electricity and gas supply during Ramadan.

The new cabinet, sworn in on Tuesday, comprises the prime minister, 25 ministers and 24 state ministers. In addition, 10 advisers have been appointed with the rank of minister and state minister. 

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his cabinet colleagues paid tribute to the Liberation War martyrs at the National Memorial in Savar before heading to the Secretariat.

The meeting, which began around 3pm, was primarily introductory in nature. At the outset, the prime minister exchanged greetings with his cabinet colleagues. Cabinet Secretary Dr Nasimul Ghani and secretaries concerned were present, among others. 

He also held a separate meeting with the secretaries. 

On his arrival at the Secretariat around 12:30pm, Tarique Rahman was received by the cabinet secretary and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister ABM Abdus Sattar.

At the meeting, the prime minister provided guidelines to the ministries concerned as per his party’s election manifesto, sources familiar with the development said.  

According to cabinet members, he instructed ministers to promptly inform the Prime Minister’s Office of the specific responsibilities and initiatives their respective ministries will undertake under the plan. 

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said traditionally, a cabinet meeting has to be held on the first day of the government. All the cabinet members and the advisers were present at the meeting. 

He said while most governments adopt a 100-day programme, the new administration has decided on a broader 180-day plan. “Discussions were held in this regard, and the plan will be shared with you soon,” he said. 

“Considering the government’s priorities, our primary focus is on keeping commodity prices under control and ensuring proper supply, further improving the law-and-order situation, and ensuring there are no disruptions to the power and energy sectors,” Salahuddin said, adding that the prime minister has given clear directives in this regard.

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Echoing the home minister, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan said special emphasis was given on the three issues.

He further said the ministers concerned will submit their plans to the prime minister in a day or two, and then the next steps will be taken as per his instructions. 

Talking to journalists, State Minister for Finance and Planning Zunaid Saki said several important directives were given at the first cabinet meeting. 

With Ramadan beginning, he said, the prime minister instructed all concerned to take necessary initiatives from their respective positions to provide relief to the public in terms of prices, law and order, and electricity and gas supply. 

Saki said time should not be wasted unnecessarily, and commitments should be implemented. 

Responding to a question about corruption, he said cabinet members were told to remain alert so that no one could use them for corruption or political shelter. “The government has made a commitment to maintaining transparency.” 

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said the prime minister instructed each ministry to work in line with the commitments made by the BNP to the people. “Ministries were directed to keep the party’s promises in mind while carrying out their responsibilities,” she said. 

Regarding the prime minister’s meeting with the secretaries, Salahuddin said Tarique Rahman reminded them that the people had delivered their verdict based on the BNP’s election manifesto and urged them to implement its pledges sincerely, in accordance with the Constitution and existing laws.

Wednesday marked Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s first full working day at the Secretariat, symbolically shifting high-level governance activities back to the administrative hub after more than a decade of PMO-centred operations.

With these engagements, he formally inaugurated his office at the Secretariat and set the tone for the government’s immediate policy direction. 

Tarique Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, took oath as prime minister on Tuesday after his party secured a landslide victory in the 13th parliamentary election held on 12 February, winning 209 out of 297 seats.