Dhaka - Bangladesh's newly appointed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed Wednesday began her second term in office, paying homage to the memory of her slain father and the country's liberation war martyrs, officials said. She was sworn in as head of government Tuesday after an alliance led by her Awami League (AL) party won a landslide victory in the December 29 general elections which ended almost two years of rule by a military-backed administration.
Hasina served as premier between 1996 and 2001.
After Tuesday's swearing-in ceremony at the presidential palace, the new premier distributed portfolios among her 32 cabinet members, five of whom are women.
The vital home and foreign affairs ministries are headed by two women - Sahara Khatun and Dipu Moni. Both of them are new as ministers and were elected parliament members for the first time in December 29 polls.
Hasina gave Abul Maal Abdul Muhit, a former minister of military dictator HM Ershad, the finance portfolio while the deputy chief of the Bangladesh forces in 1971 liberation war, AK Khandaker, was made planning minister.
Ghulam Muhammad Quader, a leader of the Jatiya Party, was awarded with the civil aviation and tourism ministry. Retired lieutenant colonel and AL leader Faruq Khan took over the commerce portfolio.
Hasina and her new cabinet paid floral tributes at the portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of Bangladesh who was assassinated by disgruntled army officers in 1975, in Dhaka and at the National Mausoleum in Savar to show respect to the martyrs of the 1971 independent war before she started her day at the Prime Minister's Office.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in a message congratulated Sheikh Hasina, a news release of the British High Commission in Dhaka said.
"The UK values its close ties with Bangladesh and we look forward to working with your government to help you meet the expectations of your people. I hope that you will work with all parties to create a brighter future for Bangladesh," Brown said.
Japan's Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone in a statement also offered felicitations on Hasina's inauguration as premier.
"Japan hopes that the people of Bangladesh will be united in making efforts for further developments of their country under the new prime minister elected in a democratic process. Japan will continue to support their endeavour," he said.
