After the general elections in 1954 in East Pakistan, the Awami League formed the government there while the West was governed by the PML, but the PML government collapse soon after in West in 1956. He was called on to join the Cabinet as Defence Minister by Prime Minister H.S. Suhrawardy and maintained closer relations with Iskander Mirza who now had become the first President of the country after the successful promulgation of Constitution in 1956. In 1957, President Mirza promoted him from acting full general to the substantive rank of full general.