Bangladesh’s New President Mirza Fakhrul Takes Office as BNP Consolidates Power

By Staff, Agencies

Bangladesh’s newly elected President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was sworn in Friday as the 23rd president of the South Asian country, marking a major political transition under the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP].

Acting Parliament Speaker Kaiser Kamal administered the oath at Bangabhaban, the presidential residence, in a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Cabinet members, opposition lawmakers and other state guests.

After assuming office, Fakhrul administered the oath to six newly appointed Cabinet members, including four full ministers and two state ministers. Following the reshuffle, the Cabinet now consists of 51 ministers, according to a government gazette.

Fakhrul, a senior BNP leader, was elected president on Thursday for a five-year term, defeating retired Col. Oli Ahmed, the candidate of an opposition alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami.

He secured 255 votes, while Ahmed received 88. Six lawmakers were absent and one parliamentary seat remains vacant. Bangladesh’s parliament has 300 elected seats, alongside 50 seats reserved for women.

The presidential election was the country’s first contested vote for the largely ceremonial position in 35 years, after the opposition had not fielded a candidate during the previous three decades.

At 78, Fakhrul has emerged as the BNP’s de facto leader. He assumed a prominent role while the party’s late chairperson Khaleda Zia was imprisoned and Tarique Rahman spent 17 years in exile in the UK, much of that period coinciding with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule.

Former President Mohammed Shahabuddin, who served under Hasina’s Awami League government, resigned on July 24 citing health reasons, two years before completing his five-year term.

Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed subsequently took over as interim president before Fakhrul’s election and inauguration.