The first meeting of the new cabinet of the present BNP government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was held at the Cabinet Division in Bangladesh Secretariat here this afternoon. 

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presided over the meeting. At the outset of the meeting, the Prime Minister exchanged pleasantries with his cabinet colleagues.

Members of the newly sworn-in cabinet attended the meeting. Cabinet secretary and secretaries concerned were present, among others. 

With this meeting that began at 3:00 pm, the new Prime Minister formally began his office in the Secretariat for the first time. The today’s meeting was mainly as an introductory meeting. 
In the meeting, the Prime Minister provided guidelines as per his party’s election manifesto to the ministries concerned, sources familiar with the development said. 

Earlier, Tareque Rahman arrived at the Cabinet Division in Bangladesh Secretariat around 12.30 pm to chair the first cabinet meeting of his government. 

On his arrival, Cabinet Secretary Dr Nasimul Ghani and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister ABM Abdus Sattar welcomed the new Prime Minister.

Tarique Rahman, also the Chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), took oath as the country’s 11th Prime Minister, five days after his party clinched the landslide victory in the 13th parliamentary election on February 12 bagging 209 parliamentary seats alone out of 297.