DHAKA, Aug 21: Veteran politician Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was sworn in on Friday as the 23rd President of Bangladesh, marking a significant moment in the country’s political landscape.
The veteran Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader took the oath at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban, the official residence and office of Bangladesh’s president. Jatiya Sangsad Acting Speaker Kayser Kamal administered the oath during a ceremony attended by senior political and military figures.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman, former Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, Cabinet ministers, senior military officers and other government officials were present at the ceremony.
Before taking office, the new president visited the graves of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia. He offered prayers at both sites ahead of the formal oath-taking ceremony.
The 78-year-old politician, who has served for years as the BNP’s secretary general, secured the presidency after defeating his only challenger, retired Colonel Oli Ahmed. Ahmed was nominated by the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party opposition alliance.
Alamgir received 255 votes in Thursday’s presidential election, while Oli Ahmed secured 88 votes.
The election was particularly notable because it was Bangladesh’s first contested presidential poll since 1991. The presidency has generally been decided through consensus or uncontested elections over the past several decades.
The result places a veteran BNP figure in the country’s highest constitutional office as Bangladesh enters a new phase of political transition. His elevation is also expected to draw attention to the evolving relationship between the presidency, the government and the opposition.
The oath ceremony brought together representatives from across Bangladesh’s political and institutional establishment, underscoring the significance of the transition.
With his formal assumption of office, the veteran politician now begins his tenure as Bangladesh’s 23rd president.