Cabinet Postmortem and Public Expectations

On February 17, 2026, a new 50-member cabinet led by Tarique Rahman was sworn in in a historic political turnaround in Bangladesh. The cabinet includes 25 full ministers and 24 state ministers, which signals the return of BNP to state power after two decades. The constitution, past record of members and one of the skill-based distributions of this cabinet, formed in the face of the difficult challenge of state reforms and fulfilling public aspirations, is presented below.

Although educational qualifications have often been viewed as secondary in the political history of Bangladesh, a touch of professionalism has been observed in this cabinet. In particular, the appointment of Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury as the Minister of Finance and Planning and Dr. Khalilur Rahman as the Technocrat Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has brought to the fore the importance of educational and professional qualifications. However, in many cases, giving priority to long-standing political sacrifices or loyalty, people without specialized knowledge in the relevant subject have been given important portfolios. To build a science-minded and modern state, it is essential for ministers to have not only political wisdom, but also deep theoretical and practical knowledge of the relevant sector, which is still waiting to be proven in the case of many members of this cabinet.

In terms of age division, an attempt has been made to create a mix of experienced elders and energetic youngsters in this cabinet. On the one hand, there are senior politicians like Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir or Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, while on the other hand, representatives of the younger generation like Jonayed Saki and Nurul Haque Noor have been placed as state ministers. This balance can utilize the experience of the elders in making policy decisions and the dynamism of the youth in implementing them. However, the concern is that there is a question in the public mind about how much direct decision-making power the youth will have at the higher levels of policy-making or whether they will only be in a rhetorical position.

Past records and caseloads have become an integral part of Bangladeshi politics, and this is also evident in the cabinet members this time. As a result of the political repression of the last 15 years, almost every member has been accused of numerous cases, many of which they claim are politically motivated. However, the moral acceptability of a cabinet formed in the public interest depends on a clean image. If individuals with specific allegations of personal corruption remain in the policy-making ranks, it can be an obstacle to good governance. The cabinet of February 17 includes some faces whose past business or political activities have been controversial in the past, which is a moral challenge for the new government.

The appointment of ministers and advisors under the technocrat quota is very important in the current world order, especially when specialized knowledge is needed to resolve state complexities. The inclusion of technocrat ministers like Dr. Khalilur Rahman and Mohammad Aminur Rashid in this cabinet is a positive sign. In addition, the appointment of 10 advisors, including economist Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir and experts like former secretary Ismail Zabiullah, could help increase administrative dynamism. But past experience shows that technocrats often cannot work independently under pressure from political ministers, which could question the actual success of this initiative.

The return of ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon to the Ministry of Education has sparked a special discussion. Although his tough role in the anti-counterfeiting campaign has been praised in the past, it remains to be seen how much modern perspective he adopts in addressing the challenges of radical reform of the education system and ensuring research-based higher education in the present era.

The appointment of Fakir Mahbub Anam to the Science and Technology and ICT sector indicates that the government is interested in building a modern technology-based administration. But in this era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, not only infrastructural development, but also revolutionary steps to increase budget allocation for innovation and research and prevent brain drain will be the benchmark for the success of this ministry.

An attempt has been made to balance the cabinet in terms of regional representation or district and division-based numbers. The inclusion of leaders like Amir Khasru from Chittagong, Khandaker Abdul Muktadir from Sylhet and Mizanur Rahman Minu from Rajshahi raises hopes of reducing regional development disparities. But due to the centralization of power or the 'Dhaka-centric' policy-making process in Bangladeshi politics, ministers from marginalized regions often fail to alleviate the suffering of the people in their own areas. The hallmark of a people-friendly cabinet is to resolve local problems through decentralization of power, which is a major test for this cabinet.

Experience and foresight help in the stability of a cabinet and provide the right direction in times of crisis. In the current economic crisis, inflation and fragile foreign exchange reserves, far-sighted decisions by the Ministry of Finance are very important. Even if this responsibility is entrusted to an experienced person like Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, his main challenge will be to break the syndicate's control over the market and ensure the purchasing power of the common people. Lack of foresight leads to failure in controlling the market and adoption of short-sighted plans.

Ensuring transparency and accountability is the biggest demand in the current political context. Not being able to understand the pulse of the people or being indifferent to the suffering of the people is the main characteristic of an incompetent cabinet. A strong institutional framework is needed to implement the commitment made by the cabinet formed on February 17 to curb corruption and be accountable to the people for every action. If ministers are only busy maintaining party influence and indulge in flattery, then the ideal of transparency will remain only on paper. Especially in the case of market control and deterioration of law and order, taking prompt remedial measures will be the real proof of accountability.

Technological knowledge and scientific mind are one of the fundamentals of modern state management. With Zahir Uddin Swapan in charge of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Fakir Mahbub Anam in the ICT sector, there is an opportunity to ensure digital infrastructure and free flow of information. However, misusing technology to suppress the opposition or impose control over information will be backwardness.

Public engagement and protection of human rights are essential qualities of an effective cabinet. The appointment of Salauddin Ahmed as the Home Minister and Md. Asaduzzaman as the Law Minister is a very sensitive one. These two ministries will have to demonstrate utmost impartiality and tolerance to heal the wounds of human rights violations that have been created in the last decade and a half. Being overzealous in suppressing the opposition or failing to maintain law and order can bring the acceptability of the cabinet to zero. Ensuring the safety of people's lives and establishing the rule of law will be one of the greatest achievements of this cabinet.

Maintaining a balance in economic stability and foreign policy is a test for the new government. An experienced diplomat like Dr. Khalilur Rahman has been appointed to the Foreign Ministry with the aim of formulating a scientific and interest-based foreign policy. Improving relations with neighboring countries and strengthening Bangladesh's position in global geopolitics should be its main goals. At the same time, it will be difficult to maintain the support of the common people unless strict measures like tax reform and bringing back laundered money are taken to maintain economic stability.

The restraint and decency of ministers in their speeches and behavior indicate a healthy political culture. The Prime Minister's leadership is important in creating an environment free from flattery and flattery. If cabinet members cannot tolerate rational criticism or make policies based on irrational and incorrect information, it will lead to public alienation. Failure to manage the crisis or showing indifference in the face of public demands is a sign of an incompetent administration, from which the current cabinet must learn a lesson.

Ariful Haque Chowdhury's inclusion in the Ministry of Labor and Employment and Expatriates' Welfare promises to increase employment abroad and protect the rights of the domestic labor market. On the other hand, Aminur Rashid's role in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food is directly linked to the common people's rice and pulses. If these ministries fail to regulate the market or cannot ensure fair prices for farmers, public trust in the government will quickly decline. Their main goal will be to increase agricultural production and maintain self-sufficiency in food through research and innovation.

The appointment of Afroza Khanam Rita and State Minister Farzana Sharmin Putul as the Minister of Women and Child Affairs and Social Welfare highlights the aspect of gender balance and social security in the cabinet. However, the relatively low number of women members in the cabinet can be seen as a shortcoming. To ensure human rights and social justice, these ministries should not be limited to distributing grants alone, but should also bring revolutionary legal reforms to empower women and protect children.

In conclusion, this cabinet, formed on February 17, 2026, stands at the crossroads of great expectations and crises. Judging by the criteria for identifying an effective cabinet in various ways discussed above in this article, it can be seen that although there is a combination of experience here, the test of foresight and integrity is still pending. If the activities of every section and member of the cabinet go against the public interest or the old record of corruption returns, it will be unfortunate for the nation. The historic responsibility of this cabinet will be to provide a scientific, transparent and accountable governance system. Only if it can earn the trust of the people and ensure sustainable development, will it be possible to consider this cabinet as successful in this 'postmortem' report.


Dr. Md. Anwar Hossain is an
essayist and President of the International 
Anti-Drug Organization - Freedom 
International Anti-Alcohol.
E-Mail Address: [email protected]