B Mirror Report: The newly elected government of Bangladesh is yet to finalise the official residence of the incoming prime minister, but the state guesthouse ‘Jamuna’ is being considered as a potential option, according to officials from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and the Department of Government Transport.
Sources said the newly elected members of parliament, led by the BNP, will begin their official journey from the South Plaza of the National Parliament House. The MPs will take their oath at the plaza on Tuesday at 10:00 am, followed by the swearing-in of the new cabinet at 4:00 pm at the same venue.
For the ministers, around 40 official residences across Dhaka, including Bailey Road, Gulshan, Dhanmondi, and Minto Road, have been prepared. These include houses vacated by former ministers and interim government advisers. While 40 residences are currently ready, the number may increase depending on the needs of the new government.
A ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said most of these houses are in ready-to-occupy condition, though some require minor renovations such as hygienic wash updates, bathroom fittings, and painting.
Regarding the prime minister’s residence, no final decision has yet been made. The official said Dr. Muhammad Yunus’ current residence at ‘Jamuna’ is under initial consideration. Earlier recommendations had suggested combining the speaker and deputy speaker’s bungalows to create a permanent prime ministerial residence, but this has not been finalised. The choice of residence will ultimately be the prime minister’s decision, and he may choose to stay at his current house or direct the preparation of a new residence.
Rumors about military presence at the guesthouse were dismissed by officials as unfounded.
In terms of official vehicles, the Department of Government Transport has prepared 50 cars for ministers, including five extra vehicles to meet VIP protocol requirements or in case of emergencies. The final number of vehicles needed will be confirmed on the day of the oath-taking ceremony.
In the parliamentary elections held on Thursday, votes were cast for 299 of the 300 seats, with polling in Sherpur-3 postponed due to the death of a candidate. The BNP secured an absolute majority for the first time in nearly two decades, and its chairman, Tarique Rahman, is set to become the next prime minister. He won both the Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6 seats and will lead the government for the fourth time under his party’s banner.
