Bangabhaban fully ready for newly elected president's swearing-in

Bangabhaban is fully prepared to host the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, with the Darbar Hall set for the formal event on Friday evening (August 21).

Fakhrul is scheduled to take the oath at 7:30pm, marking his formal assumption of office as the country's newly elected president.

President's Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam said all arrangements for the ceremony have been completed. The Cabinet Division will conduct the programme, with more than 1,200 guests expected to attend.

The ceremony will begin with the president-elect entering the Darbar Hall, followed by the national anthem and Quran recitation.

Acting Speaker Kaiser Kamal will administer the oath to Fakhrul, while Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani will conduct the ceremony.

Fakhrul was elected president on Thursday through a parliamentary vote held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Voting took place from 2pm to 5pm, with Fakhrul, the BNP nominee, securing 255 of the 349 votes cast.

His rival was retired Colonel Oli Ahmad, the nominee of the 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami.

Chief Election Commissioner and presidential election officer A M M Nasir Uddin announced the result after the votes were counted.

The Election Commission subsequently issued a gazette notification on Thursday night formally declaring Fakhrul elected.

He will succeed Mohammed Shahabuddin, the country's 22nd president, who resigned from office on July 24.

Following Shahabuddin's resignation, the presidency became vacant, triggering the constitutional process to elect a new president within 90 days.

The latest election marks a return to a contested presidential vote after 35 years. The last such election was held in 1991, when candidates backed by the BNP and Awami League contested the presidency following the restoration of the parliamentary system.