Veteran politician Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP’s longest-serving second-in-command, was sworn today as Bangladesh’s new president at Bangabhaban, capping a five-decade political journey.
Jatiya Sangsad Acting Speaker Kayser Kamal administered the oath at about 7:35pm at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban, the official office-residence of the head of state.
Outgoing acting president Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, former chief adviser of the interim government Prof Muhammad Yunus, Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman, cabinet members, leaders of different political parties and several hundred distinguished guests, including ambassadors and high commissioners, attended the state ceremony.
Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani conducted the programme.
After assuming the office of the president, Mirza Fakhrul administered the oath of office to the new faces in the cabinet.
Following resignation of Mohammed Shahabuddin, a Awami League nominated president, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad assumed office as acting president on July 24, making his tenure the shortest in history.
Mirza Fakhrul was elected by lawmakers yesterday in an indirect election. It was the first contested presidential election held since 1991.
Between 1996 and 2023, eight presidents were elected unopposed, with ruling-party candidates winning each time.
Born in Thakurgaon on January 26, 1948, Fakhrul comes from a political family. A graduate in economics from Dhaka University, he entered politics as a left‑leaning student activist during the anti‑Ayub Khan uprising.
After independence, he briefly taught before leaving government service.
In 1988, he was elected chairman of Thakurgaon municipality as an independent candidate.
Joining BNP in the early 1990s during the anti‑Ershad movement, he became president of Thakurgaon district BNP in 1992.
He contested the 1991 and 1996 elections from Thakurgaon‑1 but lost both times, eventually winning in 2001.
From 2001 to 2006, he served as state minister for agriculture and civil aviation and tourism.
He lost the 2008 election. In the controversial 2018 polls, BNP nominated him from Thakurgaon‑1 and Bogura‑6; he won Bogura‑6 but declined to take oath.
Fakhrul rose to senior joint secretary general in 2009, became acting secretary general in 2011, and was formally elected in 2016.
He remained in the post until August 13 this year, when BNP nominated him for the presidency. During Hasina’s regimes, he was jailed at least 11 times, spending about three years behind bars combined.
