Bangladeshi soldiers salute as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, center, pays respects to the liberation war martyrs at the national mausoleum in Savar, Bangladesh, Jan. 7, 2009.

Bangladesh's new prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has appointed women to two of the country's top ministries.

On her first official day in office today, Wednesday, Ms. Hasina named veteran lawyer Sahara Khatun to head the Home (Interior) Ministry. She also placed Dipu Moni, a doctor and leader in the ruling party's women's wing, in charge of Foreign Affairs.

Ms. Hasina, a one-time opposition leader and former prime minister, took the oath of office Tuesday, restoring democracy to the country after two years of rule by an army-backed interim administration.

Today (Wednesday), she announced her 31-member Cabinet, including two other women and many young newcomers.

Ms. Hasina says her main goals are bolstering law and order, and curbing food prices. She has put herself in charge of the country's energy, defense, religion, women's affairs and public works portfolios.

An army-backed interim government had ruled Bangladesh since 2007, when the military intervened to end months of violence between supporters of Ms. Hasina's Awami League and the rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party, headed by Khaleda Zia.

Ms. Zia has said she is prepared to work with her former rival.