Yunus Holds 27 ministries As Bangladesh Interim Govt Declares Portfolios

The head of the Bangladesh’s interim government Muhammad Yunus took charge of 27 ministries as he announced the portfolios of the newly-appointed council of advisors on Friday.

Yunus will oversee 27 portfolios including the defence, public administration, education, energy, food, water resources and information ministries.

Yunus made diplomat Mohammad Touhid Hossain the head of the foreign ministry. Brig Gen M Sakhawat Hossain (retd) became the Interior Ministry Adviser.

Former Bangladesh Bank governor Salahuddin Ahmed will be in charge of the finance and planning ministries while former attorney general A F Hassan Arif will oversee the local government ministry.

The initial thrust areas of the interim government are the improvement of law and order as well as the restoration of confidence of law enforcement agencies.

Nobel laureate Yunus, 84, took oath as the head of the interim government in Bangladesh on Thursday after Sheikh Hasina resigned and escaped to India. Yunus took oath as the chief advisor, a position equivalent to prime minister.

The advisors of ministries were selected in consultation with student leaders, the military, and civil society representatives.

Two coordinators of Students Against Discrimination are in the cabinet in charge of telecommunications and information technology and youth and sports ministries.