The formal oath-taking ceremony took place at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban at 7:30 pm where Acting Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal administered the oath of office to the new head of state at 7:37 pm.
Special Correspondent : Veteran politician Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir officially assumed office as the 23rd President of Bangladesh during an evening swearing-in ceremony on Friday.The formal oath-taking ceremony took place at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban at 7:30 pm where Acting Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal administered the oath of office to the new head of state at 7:37 pm.
Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani conducted the proceeding, which commenced with the playing of the national anthem and recitations from the Holy Quran. The event was attended by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, members of the cabinet, and hundreds of invited dignitaries.
Mirza Fakhrul, representing the BNP, won the presidency following Thursday’s parliamentary vote, where he defeated his sole competitor, Col (retd) Oli Ahmad of the 11-party opposition coalition led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.Out of 343 valid ballots cast during the election, Mirza Fakhrul received 255 votes compared to 88 for Oli Ahmad.
A total of six lawmakers among the 349 eligible parliamentarians did not participate in the voting process, including BNP lawmakers Mirza Abbas, Mostafa Kamal Pasha, and Dr. Muhammad Osman Farruk; independent lawmaker Rumeen Farhana; and Jamaat lawmaker Gazi Nazrul Islam.
Following the tallying of votes, the Election Commission (EC) published an official gazette confirming Mirza Fakhrul’s election to the presidency.
Cabinet Expands with 5 New Members and One Elevation
Taking the oath as full ministers were BNP Standing Committee member and Narsingdi-2 MP Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) Chairman and Bhola-1 MP Andaleeve Rahman Partho, Bandarban MP Saching Prue Jerry and State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Rashiduzzaman Millat, who was elevated to minister rank.
Concurrently, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir and Gaibandha-4 lawmaker Mohammad Shamim Kaiser Lincoln were sworn in as state ministers.The swearing-in proceedings occurred at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban on Friday evening, immediately following the inauguration of Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as Bangladesh’s 23rd President.
The oath for the presidential office was administered by Acting Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal at 7:30 pm, after which President Mirza Fakhrul administered the oath to the incoming cabinet members.Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, cabinet members, and over 1,200 distinguished guests attended the ceremony. Five of the inductees were seated inside the Darbar Hall ahead of the proceedings.
The cabinet expansion anticipates a broader reshuffle involving portfolios across ministries. With Mirza Fakhrul assuming the presidency, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives fell vacant. Previously, Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Dipen Dewan stepped down on June 1 citing health concerns.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman originally took office on February 17 following the victory of the BNP in the February 12 general election, alongside 25 ministers and 24 state ministers.
