Hassan Rasheed has been appointed as Minister of Defence and National Service. 

Rasheed was previously serving as a State Minister at the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure. 

Rasheed took oath of office at a ceremony held at the President's Office earlier this evening. 

Rasheed hails from Th. Vilufushi. He has been amongst President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's most trusted associates since before his presidency, when he had been serving as Housing Minister. 

During President Muizzu's tenure as Housing Minister, Rasheed served as a State Minister at the same ministry. 

He is also the older brother of former Vilufushi constituency MP Riyaz Rasheed.