Following Bangladesh’s election victory, Tarique Rahman names a new cabinet.

Tarique Rahman, the prime minister of Bangladesh, established his first cabinet, keeping the defense ministry for himself and appointing a former minister of commerce to lead the nation’s struggling economy. Following a resounding election victory, Rahman took office on Tuesday, succeeding the interim government that had governed the 170 million-person nation since a murderous revolt in 2024 overthrew Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian regime. Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, 76, a businessman and seasoned congressman who has since returned to the finance ministry, is part of the 50-member cabinet that was announced in a gazette notice published late Tuesday.

After months of unrest that shook investor confidence in the second-largest apparel exporter in the world, Chowdhury is entrusted with bringing growth back.

Prior to his forced resignation in 2004, he was a member of Rahman’s late mother, three-time prime minister Khaleda Zia’s government.Media sources state that he resigned after approving Taiwan’s establishment of a business office in Dhaka. Chowdhury has refrained from discussing the matter in public. 

During Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule, he was also jailed multiple times because her administration frequently targeted opposition figures in what are frequently criticized as politically motivated charges. As his government tackles a long list of issues, including as enhancing security and mending divisions in a nation split by years of strife, Rahman, 60, has nominated himself defense minister.

Bangladesh is sandwiched between Myanmar, where fighting has spread into frontier areas, and India, where border tensions are high. Over a million Rohingya refugees have escaped Myanmar and are now living in Bangladesh.The foreign minister, Khalilur Rahman, is a seasoned diplomat and former UN official with degrees from US and Dhaka institutions. 

The caretaker government’s security portfolio was headed by Khalilur Rahman, who also assisted in mediating trade negotiations with the US. He must strike a delicate balance in regional affairs after Dhaka strengthened its ties with New Delhi’s bitter rival Pakistan and relations with neighbor India worsened under the interim administration.

Bangladesh is positioned between India, where border tensions are strong, and Myanmar, where violence has extended into bordering areas.  After fleeing Myanmar, more than a million Rohingya refugees are currently residing in Bangladesh.Khalilur Rahman, the foreign minister, has degrees from US and Dhaka universities and is a seasoned diplomat and former UN officer. 

Khalilur Rahman led the security portfolio of the caretaker administration and helped mediate trade talks with the United States.  With relations with neighbor India deteriorating under the interim government and Dhaka fortifying its links with New Delhi’s fierce adversary Pakistan, he must maintain a careful balance in regional affairs. Following Bangladesh’s election victory, Tarique Rahman names a new cabinet.