After a long period of political turmoil, Bangladesh's new government has been formed. The 50-member cabinet led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is a mix of old and new, with a majority of new faces. While the presence of leaders joining the cabinet for the first time is striking, discussions have already begun about the lack of female representation and some of the additions.

Of the 25 full ministers in the cabinet, 16 are new, and almost all of the 24 state ministers are new. The Prime Minister herself is also a member of the cabinet for the first time. However, there are only three women in this large 50-member cabinet, which is criticized. At the same time, the inclusion of some leaders of the partner parties is sending a message of political coordination, while the inclusion of a former advisor to the interim government has also raised new questions.

Minister outside Dhaka
Only Sheikh Rabiul Alam has become a full minister from the capital Dhaka. He has been given the responsibility of the Ministry of Roads, Railways and Shipping after becoming a member of parliament for the first time. And four have become state ministers. Among them, former footballer Aminul Haque, who lost in the Dhaka-16 constituency, has been made a state minister under the technocrat quota.

Despite winning five seats in Dhaka district, no one from BNP has been appointed to the cabinet. No one from the neighboring districts of Munshiganj, Narayanganj, and Gazipur has been appointed to the cabinet this time.

New face
Apart from the Prime Minister, 10 first-time elected leaders have taken oath as full ministers. The list includes Khondaker Abdul Moktadir and Ariful Haque Chowdhury of Sylhet, Afroza Khanam Rita of Manikganj, Md. Asaduzzaman of Jhenaidah, Dipen Dewan of Rangamati and new faces like Fakir Mahbub Anam Swapan and Sheikh Rabiul Alam. Apart from this, veteran leaders Abdul Awal Mintu and Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain got the taste of full ministry as elected members of parliament for the first time.

Sabbir Ahmed, a political science professor at Dhaka University, believes that it is not important from which constituency a minister is appointed. He told Alap that what matters is a person's expertise in this matter.

Commenting on the cabinet's 'balanced' nature, the political scientist said, "It's neither too good nor too bad. The cabinet is balanced."

Women's participation
Afroza Khanam will remain as a full minister in the Tarique Rahman-led government. Shama Obaid Islam and Farzana Sharmin will remain as state ministers.

Professor Sabbir Ahmed believes that women should have participated more in the cabinet. He said that at least 10 percent should have been women. There are only three women in the 50-member cabinet.

Barrister Miti Sanjana also commented that the number of women has decreased.

She told Alap, "We always see a kind of misogynistic attitude. When we talk about legal issues in the context of Bangladesh, we see a great need for women-friendly laws."

"The main job of parliament is to make laws. Women's participation is more important to understand women-friendly laws, women-friendly policies, and what is truly beneficial for women."

Barrister Miti Sanjana, who believes that the low number of women in the cabinet will have a negative impact, said, "There are only three in the cabinet. It seems like there could have been a little more. Women's participation and a gender balance of women in various parliamentary committees should be ensured, and that should be done from now on."

Political observer Ashraf Kaiser also believes that the number of women in the cabinet has decreased. He said, "Tarique Rahman, who spoke about the liberation of women, is the opposite of Jamaat-e-Islami's position on women. His reflection has not been seen much in this cabinet."

BNP leader Afroza Khanam has been given the responsibility of a full-time minister in the new cabinet. According to media reports, she is being given the responsibility of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.

On the other hand, two very well-known and influential female faces of the BNP, Shama Obaid Islam and Farzana Sharmin, are joining the government as state ministers. According to media reports, Farzana Sharmin has been nominated as the state minister of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and the Ministry of Social Welfare, and Shama Obaid Islam as the state minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Khalilur Rahman's affiliation
Khalilur Rahman, the National Security Advisor in the interim government, has been appointed as a technocrat minister in the cabinet. However, Sabbir Ahmed has commented that his inclusion raises big questions.

According to the political science professor, the biggest question mark in this cabinet is the addition of Khalilur Rahman to the interim government's advisory rank. He said this addition raises questions about the impartiality of the previous government.

"This merger has created an opportunity to speculate that the previous government worked for the BNP."

Ashraf Qaiser also expressed surprise at his association. The political observer said, "It is both a surprise and a question. It is natural to ask whether this is necessary or a continuation of the previous power."

"This issue will certainly be discussed for a long time."

Partner group members
They had elected the parties that were in the same movement as BNP. The results were the same in the elections. This time, BNP has given a place to several leaders in the cabinet.

Former Dhaka University VP and President of the People's Rights Council Nurul Islam, Chief Coordinator of the Mass Solidarity Movement Jonayed Saki, and former NDM President Bobby Hajjaj have been sworn in as state ministers.

Ashraf Kaiser says that Tarique Rahman was saying that he would 'unify' everyone. This is a reflection of that.

Those who are further discussed
According to media reports, former State Minister for Education Ehsanul Haque Milon is getting the responsibility of Education Minister this time. This MP from Chandpur-1 constituency was a State Minister in Khaleda Zia's government in 2001. He has been elected as a Member of Parliament from this constituency again this time.

BNP candidate Aminul Islam, who lost in Dhaka-16, is being made a technocrat minister. Several media outlets have reported that the former footballer is going to be the state minister for sports.

BNP candidate Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad will become the minister in Comilla-3 constituency. He has contested the National Assembly elections from Comilla-3 (Muradnagar) constituency six times and has won all six times.

Apart from this, among the top leaders, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee members Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Salahuddin Ahmed, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, central leader Abdul Awal Mintu, AJM Zahid Hossain, Mizanur Rahman Minu, Md. Asaduzzaman have all taken oath in the cabinet.

Several top leaders have been appointed as advisors to the Prime Minister with the rank of ministers and state ministers.

A notification from the Cabinet Division said that the advisors appointed with ministerial rank are Mirza Abbas Uddin Ahmed, Nazrul Islam Khan, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Md. Ismail Zabiullah, Dr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir.

And Humayun Kabir, Brigadier General (Retd.) Shamsul Islam, Dr. Zahedur Rahman, Dr. Mahadi Amin and Rehan Asif Asad will serve as advisors with the rank of State Minister.

So far, senior BNP leaders like MK Anwar and Moin Khan have not been given any responsibilities. It is believed that they may be selected for the presidency.