Mohosinul Karim and Anaet Shawon
The Cabinet is likely to experience a massive reshuffle today while there is a possibility of inclusion of six new ministers in the Cabinet.
It will hike the number of the members of the Cabinet to 55. With the Prime Minister, the number will rise to 56 from existing 50.
According to the Cabinet Division and Bangabhaban sources, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is going to induct several new faces into her cabinet today (Tuesday). The new members would take oath at 6pm on Tuesday at Bangabhaban.
Ruling party Awami League's lawmakers Nurul Islam BSC and Tarana Halim, a renowned actress, are likely to take oath in the programme.
AL Joint General Secretary Dipu Moni, Organising Secretary Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Industry Secretary Mohammad Faruq Khan and Alauddin Nasim, former Assistant Personal Secretary to the Ptime Minister Sheikh Hasina, are likely to take oath in the programme.
The Cabinet Division will conduct the ceremony while President Abdul Hamid will administer the oath.
Bangabhaban sources confirmed that the high official of the Personal Division of the President's office is taking preparation to host the programme before Tuesday's ifter. The new ministers including the invitees will break their fast after the programme. When contacted, President's Office's Secretary Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam declined to make any comment in this connection saying: "It's not my matter. The Personal Division of the President's Office will host the programme. They may know the issue."
Cabinet Secretary M. Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan and Cabinet Division's Additional Secretary Abdul Wadud also refused to make any comment.
Bhuiyan and Wadud told the Daily Observer that they would not make any comment in this regard.
However, the Cabinet Division sources said lawmakers Nurul Islam BSC and Tarana Halim had already been asked to attend the oath taking ceremony to take oath as minister. Nurul Islam and Tarana Halim admitted that they had received phone calls from the Cabinet Division. They were asked to stay in Dhaka before 3pm on Tuesday.
Sources said State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal is likely to be promoted to the Cabinet minister. He was also asked to stay in Dhaka before 3pm cancelling all programmes.
According to sources, the Department of Government Transport, well known as Paribahan Pool, has been asked to prepare six new cars for the new ministers.
The Cabinet Division sources said that the officials of the division are working to organise and conduct the oath taking ceremony.