‘Implementation manifesto is main challenge for new cabinet’


FE Team | Published: January 07, 2019 18:50:39 | Updated: January 08, 2019 11:35:35


‘Implementation manifesto is main challenge for new cabinet’

Implementing the Awami League’s (AL’s) election manifesto will be the primary challenge for the 47 new cabinet members.

AL general secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader came up with the remarks on Monday.

Talking to reporters at Bangabhaban just after the oath-taking ceremony of the cabinet members, he said, "Now our main challenge is to implement the manifesto that our party presented before the election. We'll work at various stages for implementing it."

Quader said he could have understood through discussions with their party president Sheikh Hasina that the new cabinet would have big surprises.

"But, I think, nobody is going to lose anything. Nobody is dropped, but there're changes in responsibilities."

According to a UNB report, he said many ministers of the last cabinet were not included in the new one in the interest of the party.

"We would like to make our party smarter and stronger further under their leadership."

"We don't want our party to end up in government. To maintain the separate entities of both the government and the party, responsible leaders must take the responsibility of the party. So, some of our leaders will now discharge government responsibility while others that of the party. So, it's a matter of change in their responsibilities," added the Road transport and bridges minister.

He said those who become cabinet members cannot properly discharge their due responsibilities of the party.

"So, we must streamline the party and make it stronger to face the challenges of implementing our election manifesto."

Quader renewed his call to Jatiya Oikyafront to show respect for people's verdict by sending their elected MPs to parliament.

Replying to a question, he said though no MP of their party's alliance partners is inducted in the cabinet, the 14 alliance partners are united and working together with Awami League.

"It can't be said our alliance has got split based on whether there is any representation of them in the cabinet or not."

During its five-year tenure, the Awami League general secretary said the cabinet will witness expansions and reshuffles.

"Some leaders may lose their cabinet portfolios halfway through based on their performances and some leaders may be included afresh the same way."

He also said those cabinet members will not be able to perform well will lose their positions after evaluation.

Earlier, AL President Sheikh Hasina took oath as Prime Minister of the country for the 3rd consecutive term along with her 46 cabinet members following her party's massive victory in the 11th national election.

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