Dhaka, Feb 18 (UNI) Post appointment of ministers, Bangladesh’s newly-elected PM Tarique Rahman has directed all cabinet ministers and state ministers to prioritise the best interests of the people.
He gave the directives while presiding over his first cabinet meeting at the Secretariat, said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam in a meeting with reporters after the meeting, adding that Rahman’s directive primarily focused on the mandate entrusted to the government by the people.
Saying that the prime minister’s instructions centred on serving citizens “faithfully and wholeheartedly,” in line with the commitments made during the campaign, quoting Rahman, Islam said, “We have been elected by the people to stand by their side and serve them faithfully.”
Rahman emphasised that each minister must carry out its duties diligently and comprehensively, ensuring that governance remains people-focused rather than bureaucratic, reports The Daily Star.
He instructed ministers and state ministers to align their work with the electoral pledges made by the BNP and to reflect those promises in concrete policy measures and service delivery.
The cabinet meeting, which began at 3:00 PM, lasted approximately one hour, according to sources at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Shortly afterward, at 4:00 PM, Rahman convened a meeting with senior secretaries, further outlining his expectations for coordinated and accountable administration.
Wednesday’s engagements also marked a symbolic shift in governance practice, with Tarique Rahman visiting the Secretariat for the first time in capacity as Prime Minister, choosing it as the venue for his inaugural cabinet session.
For more than a decade, most cabinet and secretaries’ meetings had been held at the Prime Minister’s Office. By convening it at the Secretariat, the new premier formally commenced work from his designated administrative headquarters.
Through the back-to-back cabinet and secretaries’ meetings, the prime minister signalled the beginning of his government’s operational phase, setting the tone for what his aides described as a results-driven approach anchored in public accountability and adherence to campaign commitments.
