At the first cabinet meeting of the new government, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman set three immediate priorities – keeping prices under control, improving law and order, and ensuring uninterrupted electricity and energy supplies.
The meeting was held at the Secretariat on Wednesday afternoon and was chaired by the prime minister, a day after members of the new cabinet were sworn in on Tuesday.
According to the meeting’s decisions, the government will soon unveil a 180-day action plan to implement these programmes on a priority basis.
All cabinet members and advisers attended Wednesday’s meeting. Earlier in the day, officials from various ministries at the Secretariat welcomed the prime minister as he formally assumed office.
The cabinet meeting began at around 3pm, followed by a separate meeting with secretaries. In both meetings, Tarique Rahman delivered brief remarks outlining the government’s direction in the coming months.
He instructed officials to work with transparency and accountability, placing particular emphasis on improving law and order and taking firm action against corruption.
The prime minister said voters had backed BNP and its electoral symbol, the sheaf of paddy, on the basis of its manifesto. The government, he said, must therefore govern in line with the pledges made to the public.
He directed ministers and secretaries to carry out their duties in accordance with the expectations of the people and the commitments set out in the party’s election manifesto.
Speaking to reporters as he left the meeting, the new Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the government was setting a 180-day list of priorities, details of which would be announced later.
He said the initial focus would be on keeping prices stable and maintaining supply chains, further improving the law and order situation, and ensuring there were no disruptions in the electricity and energy sectors, including gas and power.
“We have told everyone that we will not consider who has what affiliation. We will assess everyone on the basis of merit,” he said.
At the briefing, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan said relevant ministers would submit their action plans to the prime minister within the next couple of days. Further steps would then be taken in line with his directives.
State Minister for Labour, Employment and Expatriates’ Welfare Nurul Haq Nur said the labour ministry had called for visits to Middle Eastern countries to boost overseas employment. He added that the prime minister had instructed officials to maintain law and order and to deliver visible results free from the influence of corruption.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed said the prime minister had directed ministers and state ministers to fulfil the expectations reflected in the public mandate.
State Minister for Finance and Planning Zonaid Saki said the prime minister wanted all ministries to remain above corruption and had provided clear guidance in that regard.
Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Land A S M Saleh Ahmed told journalists that voters had backed BNP on the basis of its manifesto. He said it was important that the commitments in the manifesto were fulfilled in line with public expectations and that secretaries should apply their expertise professionally in the national interest.
