Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Zahir Uddin Swapan Granted Ministerial Status

Photo: Collected

News Desk: Zahir Uddin Swapan has resigned from his position as Minister of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. At the same time, he has been appointed as Political Adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

On Saturday (August 22), the Cabinet Division issued two separate gazettes regarding the matter. The resignation-related gazette, signed by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani, stated, “The resignation letter of Zahir Uddin Swapan, Minister of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, has been accepted by the President. This resignation will take effect immediately.”

Meanwhile, in another gazette issued by the Cabinet Division, Zahir Uddin Swapan was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Political Adviser under Rules 3B(1) and 3B(2) of the ‘Rules of Business, 1996’.

The gazette further stated that while serving as an adviser, he would enjoy the status, salary, allowances and other associated benefits of a minister.

Earlier, as part of the first reshuffle of the BNP government led by Tarique Rahman, Barrister Andalib Rahman Partha, chairman of the Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), was given charge of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in place of Zahir Uddin Swapan. After being sworn in as a full minister at Bangabhaban on Friday (August 21) evening, he was assigned the ministry. The BNP alliance partner is a Member of Parliament from the Bhola-1 constituency.

As part of the first cabinet reshuffle, the Cabinet Division issued a gazette late Friday night announcing the new allocation and reallocation of responsibilities.