Mahmud made foreign minister

Forty-five days into the formation of the new cabinet, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday expanded it by inducting AH Mahmud Ali and Col (retd) Mohammad Najrul Islam into her council of ministers.
Mahmud has been made foreign minister and Najrul state minister for water resources.
President Abdul Hamid administered their oaths at the Bangabhaban at noon in the presence of the PM, cabinet members and senior civil and military officials. Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan conducted the ceremony.

However, journalists were not allowed entry to cover the function.
Mahmud, who served as foreign minister during the polls-time government led by Hasina, was elected from Dinajpur-4 (Chirirbandar-Khansama) on January 16 re-polls, 11 days after the 10th parliamentary election as voting at 57 polling centres in the constituency had been marred by violence and disruption, forcing the Election Commission to order re-polls.
He was also inducted into Hasina's previous cabinet as relief and disaster management minister in September 2012.
Najrul was elected from Narsingdi-1 in January 5 national polls.
Emerging from the Bangabhaban after the oath-taking, Najrul told reporters that he had taken his new responsibility at the water resources ministry as a challenge.
Meanwhile, deputy minister for water resources Abdullah Al Islam Jakob has been transferred to the forest and environment ministry with the same rank and status.
With the inclusion of two new faces, the cabinet now has 30 ministers, excluding the PM, 18 state ministers and two deputy ministers.
Earlier on January 12, AL President Sheikh Hasina formed the cabinet with lawmakers from four other parties -- Jatiya Party, Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and Jatiya Party-Manju -- besides those from her party.
NEW FM WANTS TO 'MARCH AHEAD'
Newly appointed Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali yesterday said he wanted to work closely with the prime minister to help Bangladesh "march ahead at a faster pace" towards ensuring peace, development and prosperity in the country.
"I want to work closely with the premier to strengthen her hands and achieve the goals set in our election manifesto," he told reporters at his office, hours after his swearing in.
In his brief statement, Mahmood Ali said he was delighted to have got the new responsibility.
Earlier, he had a marathon introductory meeting with the senior officials of the foreign ministry.