As Bangladesh steps into a transitional phase, key figures within its interim government have been assigned oversight of crucial ministries and divisions.

Dr Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor, will oversee a broad array of ministries, according to a circular issued on Friday.

He will lead the Cabinet Division, Defence Ministry, Armed Forces Division, Education Ministry, Road Transport and Bridges Ministry, Food Ministry, Housing and Public Works Ministry, Land Ministry, Textiles and Jute Ministry, Agriculture Ministry, Science and Technology Ministry, Railways Ministry, Public Administration Ministry, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Shipping Ministry, Water Resources Ministry, Women and Children Affairs Ministry, Disaster Management and Relief Ministry, Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, Commerce Ministry, Labour and Employment Ministry, Cultural Affairs Ministry, Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, Liberation War Affairs Ministry, Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Ministry, and Primary and Mass Education Ministry.

Meanwhile, Dr Salahuddin Ahmed will be in charge of the Finance Ministry and Planning Ministry; Dr Asif Nazrul Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry; Adilur Rahman Khan Industries Ministry; AF Hassan Ariff Local Government Ministry; Md Touhid Hossain Foreign Ministry; Syeda Rizwana Hasan Environment Ministry; Sharmeen Murshid Social Welfare Ministry; and Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain Home Ministry.

Besides, AFM Khalid Hossain will run the Religious Affairs Ministry; Farida Akhter Fisheries and Livestock Ministry; Nurjahan Begum Health and Family Welfare Ministry; Md Nahid Islam Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Ministry; and Asif Mahmud Youth and Sports Ministry.

Bangladesh embarked on a new era as President Mohammed Shahabuddin swore in members of the country's interim government, headed by Dr Yunus as the chief advisor, on Thursday night.

Three advisors, Supradip Chakma, Farooq-e-Azam and Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar, were unable to take their oaths, but they will reportedly soon do so.

During the oath-taking ceremony, Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain said the three could not attend the ceremony as they were outside Dhaka.