Prime Minister Tarique Rahman entered the Secretariat on Wednesday (February 18) around 12:30 pm to begin his first day in office. Earlier in the morning, he paid tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War at the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar, Dhaka.
Upon his arrival at the Secretariat, he was welcomed by senior officials of the Cabinet Division. He will carry out his duties on his first day from the Prime Minister’s designated office on the third floor of the new Building No. 1. The first cabinet meeting is scheduled for 3:00 pm in the Cabinet Room of the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, also on the third floor, with the Prime Minister presiding.
Preparations at the Secretariat have been completed ahead of the first day in office for the new ministers and state ministers. Beautification and cleaning work across ministries and departments has been finalised, with many corridors now adorned with fresh flower pots. Nameplates of interim government advisers have been replaced with those of the new ministers and state ministers, and officials and staff are ready to welcome the new cabinet members with flowers.
Security has been tightened across the Secretariat to accommodate the new offices. Around Building Number 1, a large contingent of law enforcement personnel, including members of the SSF, army, police, PGR, and other forces, are actively monitoring the premises. An archway has been installed at the building entrance, while staff and employees of the Public Administration Ministry and the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs are allowed entry only after ID verification. Army and RAB dog squads are stationed on the lower floors, and strict security is maintained at the main gate.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will meet officials of the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, followed by a special cabinet meeting and discussions with secretaries. The 3:00 pm special cabinet meeting will serve as an introductory session without a fixed agenda, followed by meetings with secretaries of various ministries at 4:00 pm.
The 13th general election for the National Parliament was held on February 12. The BNP secured a two-thirds majority, winning 212 of the 297 declared seats. The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance won 77 seats, while independents and others secured 8 seats.
On Tuesday afternoon, the new Prime Minister, ministers, and state ministers took their oaths. Offices were allocated to them later that night through a notification issued by the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs.
After 25 years, the BNP has formed the government for the fourth time, with Tarique Rahman assuming the office of Prime Minister for the first time as party chairman.