Online Desk: Newly appointed Foreign Minister Dr Mohammed Hasan Mahmud has described the new Cabinet as a “well-thought of Smart Cabinet” led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, which would take the country forward overcoming challenges.

“The Prime Minister (Sheikh Hasina) has formed a smart cabinet and she will take forward the country with this Cabinet,” he told media after taking oath as a minister.

Mahmud expressed satisfaction to almighty Allah and deep gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for choosing him as a minister again.

In the past, he said, they moved forward overcoming all the challenges under the leadership of the premier.

“Still, we have challenges. We firmly believe that we will take forward the country overcoming whatever challenges we face,” he said.

The PM has chosen Mahmud as the new foreign minister to oversee her government’s foreign policy- friendship to all, malice towards none – in a changed scenario globally amid intensified geopolitics and big powers rivalry.

Mahmud, who served as information and broadcasting minister in the last tenure, replaced AK Abdul Momen.

He was appointed as the state minister for foreign affairs in January 2009 in Sheikh Hasina’s cabinet but six months later he was moved to the position of state minister for environment and forests.

In November 2011, he was promoted to a full minister of environment and forest.