Veteran Bangladeshi politician and BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been sworn in as the 23rd President of Bangladesh. The Speaker of Bangladesh's Parliament administered the oath of office to the 78-year-old politician.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban, the official residence of the president of Bangladesh.
President Droupadi Murmu sent a congratulatory message to President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
"I extend to you my warm congratulations on your assumption of office as the President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. I am confident that your long experience of public life and political leadership heralds a successful tenure in service of the people of Bangladesh," President Murmu said.
"India and Bangladesh share a unique relationship, rooted in a shared history of sacrifices, close cultural ties and warm bonds of friendship. In recent times, our bilateral ties have steadily expanded to several areas such as energy, technology, connectivity, youth affairs, health and education. I look forward to working with you to further strengthen the partnership between our two neighbouring countries, President Murmu added.
"Please accept, Excellency, my best wishes for your continued good health and happiness, for the successful discharge of your responsibilities, as well as for the continued progress and prosperity of the people of Bangladesh," President Murmu said in the letter to the Bangladesh President.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, top officials and constitutional functionaries, foreign dignitaries, and civil and military officials attended the oath ceremony.
President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir visited the graves of BNP founder President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia in the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area of Dhaka earlier in the day.
Bangladesh's Leader of Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman also congratulated Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on being elected the 23rd President of the country.
"The President is a symbol of national unity. The President has an important role to play in advancing democracy in the country, establishing the rights of the people and justice, and upholding independence and sovereignty," Dr Shafiqur Rahman said.
Alamgir was the BNP's leader on the ground in the absence of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, who was jailed. With the current prime minister being in exile then, the veteran politician ran the party's affairs on the ground in coordination with Rahman, who was living in London in exile at the time. He later became a minister in Rahman's Cabinet when the BNP came to power in February this year.
The United Kingdom (UK) congratulated Alamgir on his election as president of Bangladesh and expressed its readiness to further strengthen the longstanding partnership between the two countries.
"Congratulations to Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on his election as the President of Bangladesh," the United Kingdom said in a statement
The UK said it looks forward to working with President Fakhrul and the Government of Bangladesh to further deepen the close and longstanding partnership between Dhaka and London.
China also congratulated Alamgir on being elected Bangladesh's new president and expressed its readiness to work with the government to further advance bilateral relations.
"China will work with Bangladesh to make continued progress in building a China-Bangladesh community with a shared future in the new era," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said.
