Dhaka: The Cabinet is likely to see its first major reshuffle with some influential ministers losing their cabinet positions and inclusion of some new faces.

A highly confidential source at the Cabinet Division said five to seven new ministers and state ministers are likely to be sworn in on Tuesday afternoon at Bangabhaban.

According to the source, three former ministers, 2-3 ruling party MPs, and Chittagong AL and former MP Nurul Islam BSc may take oath as new ministers and junior ministers.

Contacted, Nurul Islam BSc told UNB that Cabinet Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuyian phoned him on Monday requesting him to get ready to join the swearing-in ceremony at Bangabhaban at about 6:00pm on Tuesday.

Tarana Halim, an MP from women reserved seat-16, also told UNB that she received a call from the Cabinet Secretary requesting her to stay at her home till 3:00pm on Tuesday.

Awami League sources said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is going to restructure her 19-month-old cabinet to relive the controversial and underperforming ministers.

Earlier on 9 July, Hasina relieved AL general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam of the LGRD Ministry making him a minister without portfolio.

It was the second change in Hasina’s third-term cabinet as Posts and Telecommunications Minister Abdul Latif Siddique was dropped from the Cabinet on 12 October last year for his anti-Islamic remarks in the USA.

Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain replaced Syed Ahsraf.

At present, two cabinet posts remain vacant following Latif Siddique’s removal and change in the portfolio of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister. Khandaker Mosharraf is now looking after his previous ministry as his additional charge.

Some ministers, meanwhile, have run into trouble with controversies after Awami League president Sheikh Hasina was sworn in as the Prime Minister for the second consecutive term formed the government comprising a 51-member cabinet.

Her current cabinet comprises 30 ministers, 18 state ministers and two deputy ministers.

Besides, she has five advisers with the status of ministers.