United News of Bangladesh

Veteran politician Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was sworn in as the 23rd President of Bangladesh on Friday evening. The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban at 7:30pm. Acting Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal administered the oath of office to the President at 7:37pm. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, cabinet members, and hundreds of distinguished guests attended the event conducted by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani. The ceremony began with the national anthem, followed by recitation from the Holy Quran. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, accompanied by his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman, sat in the front row of the Darbar Hall. Former interim government Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Shafiqur Rahman attended the event.   Besides, Mirza Fakhrul’s spouse Rahat Ara Begum, his two daughters Mirza Shamaruh and Mirza Safaruh accompanied by their spouses, as well as his two brothers Mirza Faisal Amin and Mirza Ruhul Amin were present. BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul was elected the President defeating his lone rival Col (retd) Oli Ahmad, the candidate of the 11-party opposition alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, in the presidential election held on Thursday. Out of all 343 valid votes, Mirza Fakhrul secured 255, while Oli Ahmad got 88. Among the 349 voters, six lawmakers did not vote in the presidential election. The six voters who did not turn up include BNP lawmakers Mirza Abbas, Mostafa Kamal Pasha and Dr Muhammad Osman Farruk, independent lawmaker Rumeen Farhana and Jamaat lawmaker Gazi Nazrul Islam. The Election Commission (EC) later issued a gazette notification declaring Mirza Fakhrul elected as the President of Bangladesh.