Published: 12:14 AM, 22 August 2026
Mirza Fakhrul sworn in as president of Bangladesh
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, a veteran politician and former secretary general of the ruling BNP, has taken oath as the 23rd President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban at 7:30pm on Friday. Deputy Speaker of the House Kayser Kamal administered the oath.
The arrival of the president-elect was announced with the sound of a bugle. When he entered the hall, the guests stood in his honour.
The ceremony formally began with the national anthem, following which the distinguished guests took their seats. The Cabinet Division secretary then initiated the oath-taking proceedings with the permission of the acting president.
The ceremonial proceedings opened with recitation from the Holy Quran. Acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman, the chief justice, cabinet members, lawmakers, foreign diplomats and senior civilian and military officials attended the ceremony.
The Cabinet Division said more than 1,200 guests were invited to the oath-taking ceremony.
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.
