Dhaka, Feb. 17 -- Ariful Haque Chowdhury's rise through Sylhet's political ranks has been steep. Now, in his first term as a member of parliament, he has crossed into top tier of power -- securing a cabinet berth as the BNP returns to office after two decades.

He is among the 25 full ministers sworn into Tarique Rahman's government.

A former ward councillor who built his career in the alleyways of Sylhet rather than the drawing rooms of Dhaka, Ariful has been rewarded with two heavyweight portfolios - labour and employment, and expatriates' welfare and overseas employment- in his very first term as an MP.

Few first-timers receive such responsibility. Fewer still come from a purely grassroots background.

Speaking after receiving confir...