Zahir Uddin Swapon has taken oath as Minister of Information and Broadcasting after winning the Barishal-1 (Gournadi-Agailjhara) constituency in the 13th national parliamentary election, marking his return to parliament and entry into the new cabinet.
Zahir Uddin Swapon secured the seat in the 12 February election, contesting with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party symbol ‘Sheaf of Paddy’, bringing the constituency back under BNP control after 18 years. His swearing-in places him at the helm of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at a significant political moment following the formation of the new government.
The announcement of his inclusion in the cabinet sparked enthusiasm among party leaders, activists and residents in Gournadi and Agailjhara, with many expressing hopes that his ministerial role would accelerate development initiatives and strengthen the constituency’s national profile.
Zahir Uddin Swapon began his political career through student activism and served as central president of Bangladesh Chhatra Maitree. He played an active role in the anti-autocracy movement of 1990 before joining the Bangladesh Nationalist Party in 1993, where he gradually assumed key organisational responsibilities. He was the founding convener of BNP’s Media Cell and later served as Information and Research Affairs Secretary and Assistant Office Secretary of the party’s central committee. He was subsequently appointed adviser to the BNP chairperson, a role he continues to hold.
In parliamentary politics, he was first elected Member of Parliament from Barishal-1 in the 6th national parliamentary election in 1996 and was re-elected in the 8th parliamentary election in 2001. He also contested the 11th parliamentary election in 2018. With his latest victory, he is entering parliament for the third time.
During his earlier tenure as a lawmaker, Zahir Uddin Swapon served on the Public Accounts Committee and a Parliamentary Standing Committee, contributing to oversight functions aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in government operations. He has also represented Bangladesh twice at the United Nations General Assembly and served as vice-president for the Asia region of Parliamentarians for Global Action, a global network of legislators working to promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
A postgraduate in political science from the University of Dhaka, Zahir Uddin Swapon brings experience in policy analysis, political strategy, parliamentary affairs and international engagement to his new role as Information and Broadcasting Minister.
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