Bangladesh: Interim government inducts three new advisers

On Sunday evening, President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office to the three new advisers who were joining the government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus.

Apart from Farooki, the other two advisers are  Sheikh Bashir Uddin, managing director of the AkijBashir Group and  Mahfuj Alam, special assistant to the chief adviser.

Bashir Uddin is the new adviser for the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Textiles and Jute while Farooki will take the helm of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, according to a notification issued after the oath-taking ceremony, reported Dhaka Tribune.

Mostofa Sarwar Farooki is a prominent Bangladeshi filmmaker who is known for making movies like Third Person Singular Number, Television and No Bed of Roses.

He wrote on Instagram after taking his oath: "I have never been into any formal thing! However I took an oath today to serve my country as the Cultural Advisor! Simply because: 1) there is always this motivation to do something for the country which is irresistible 2) it’s always tempting to be a colleague of Prof Yunus!"

He said he promised to do everything to bring changes in the country.

The interim government came to power in August just days after former PM Sheikh Hasina's administration was toppled amid violent protests against her.

Hasina fled to India.

Hasina was the longest-serving PM of Bangladesh.

After registering a landslide victory in the general polls, she came to power for another term in January.