National
Sheikh Hasina to be Sworn in as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister for 4th Consecutive Term
Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, following her party’s resounding victory in the 7 January elections, is set to be sworn in as prime minister for the fourth consecutive term and will form her cabinet on Thursday (11 January), according to Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq.
The new cabinet will take the oath at the Bangabhaban at 7 pm on Thursday, as announced by the minister during a press briefing at the secretariat on 9 January.
On 10 January, MPs-elect in the elections will take their oath as the Election Commission approved the publication of the election results in official gazettes. Following the oath, Awami League’s parliamentary party will officially elect Sheikh Hasina as their leader and communicate this decision to the President, leading to her appointment as prime minister for the fifth time since her first term in 1996.
The president will then administer the oath to the new prime minister, who will advise the head of state on the appointment of ministers and state ministers, selected by her, to form the new cabinet. Specific details regarding the number of lawmakers serving as ministers or the composition of the cabinet were not disclosed.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission is expected to issue gazettes announcing the winners of the 12th national polls on the same day. According to Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath, the gazettes for all constituencies are likely to be announced on that day.
Regarding the opposition party in the parliament, Anisul mentioned that the role of independent candidates who won in the 12th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) polls would be crucial in its formation. The opposition’s composition will depend on how the independent candidates position themselves, and if they decide to act separately, Jatiyo Party will become the opposition.
The swearing-in ceremony for the elected members of the 12th Parliament is scheduled for 10 January. Awami League-backed candidates secured 222 seats in the general elections, while independent candidates, most of whom also belonged to the AL, won 62 seats. Jatiyo Party candidates secured 11 seats, and three single candidates from three parties—Bangladesh Workers’ Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasod, and Bangladesh Kalyan Party—emerged victorious in their respective constituencies.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds at most places across the Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Some areas may experience moderately heavy to very heavy rainfall, according to their latest weather bulletin released on Thursday.
Day and night temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged across the country.
The highest rainfall in the country over the past 24 hours was recorded in Kumarkhali, with 104mm of rain by 6 a.m. on Thursday.
The axis of the monsoon trough extends from India’s Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal to Assam, passing through Bangladesh, with one of its associated troughs stretching into the North Bay of Bengal.
The monsoon remains active over Bangladesh and moderate to strong over the North Bay region.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted that the mild heat wave currently affecting parts of the country, including the capital, is expected to subside in most areas within the next 24 hours, starting from 9 am today.
“A mild heat wave is sweeping across the divisions of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet, as well as the districts of Jashore, Chuadanga, and Kushtia. It is likely to ease in most regions,” the department reported.
In addition, BMD predicted light to moderate rainfall or thundershowers, accompanied by temporary gusty winds, across most of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Some areas are expected to experience moderate to very heavy rainfall.
Temperatures across the country may drop by 1-2 degrees Celsius during both day and night.
On Monday, Dinajpur in the Rangpur division recorded the country’s highest temperature at 38.6°C, while Bandarban in the Chattogram division saw the lowest temperature at 24.6°C early today.
Meanwhile, rainfall recorded in the past 24 hours, ending at 6 am today, reached 66 mm in Nikli of Dhaka Division.
The sunset in Dhaka is at 5:53 pm today, and sunrise is expected at 5:49 am tomorrow.
Two separate murder cases were filed today in connection with the deaths of a private service holder and a Madrasa student during the anti-discrimination student movement.
The first case was lodged by Ridwan Ahmed with Panchlaish police station, accusing former ministers Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, and 127 others for the death of his nephew Sujan, 14. Sujan, the son of Belal Hossain from Beramara village in Noakhali’s Sadar Thana, was a student at Al Jamirul Hayat Madrasa in the city’s Chandgaon area. He was fatally shot in the Muradpur area on July 18.
The second case was filed by Jamal Uddin at Doublemooring police station, accusing 225 individuals, including Dr. Hasan Mahmud and Education Minister Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, for the killing of his elder brother Alam, a private service holder, on August 5.
