Ten minutes before the oath-taking was due to begin, Bangabhaban’s Darbar Hall was already full.
Cabinet members, senior government officials, politicians and other invited guests had taken their seats, while photographers crowded near the dais and television crews pointed their cameras towards the front.
Some guests held up mobile phones to take photos and videos. Others walked over to the incoming cabinet members, seated together in a reserved section, to congratulate them and pose for pictures.
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Photo: PMO
The dais was covered with flowers. The national flag stood behind a row of ornate white chairs, while ceremonial guards remained in position.
The atmosphere was expectant.
Over the next 23 minutes, the hall would witness not only a change of president but also the new head of state’s first constitutional act: swearing in four ministers and two state ministers.
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Photo: PMO
At 7:27pm, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman entered the packed Darbar Hall with his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman. Many of those present were already on their feet.
Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani came to the microphone at around 7:28pm to conduct the programme.
At 7:30pm, a ceremonial chime sounded.
President-elect Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmad and Jatiya Sangsad Acting Speaker Kayser Kamal then entered the hall and took their places on the dais. With a smile on his face, Fakhrul waved to those present.
Everyone stood as the national anthem was played.
Ghani first sought permission from Hafiz, who was still acting president, to begin the formal proceedings.
Opening the programme, the cabinet secretary paid tribute to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War and the 2024 July Uprising, as well as former president Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia.
When Ghani referred to Fakhrul as the president-elect, applause swept through the hall.
At around 7:35pm came the key moment.
Fakhrul and Kayser stood facing the microphones, with the national flag towering behind them. Fakhrul held a red oath folder, while Kayser held a green one.
Kayser began administering the presidential oath, line by line, and Fakhrul repeated after him.
The hall, moments earlier filled with conversation and movement, had fallen quiet. Guests watched the dais, while photographers kept their lenses fixed on the two men.
The oath was completed at about 7:38pm.
Fakhrul then signed the oath book, with Kayser completing the formalities as the oath administrator.
And with that signature came an immediate, visible change on the dais.
Fakhrul moved into the seat that Hafiz had occupied as acting president, while Hafiz moved to the place Fakhrul had occupied before taking the oath.
It was then announced that Hafiz had resumed his duties as Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad. Kayser, the deputy speaker, had been serving as acting speaker while Hafiz performed the duties of president and had, in that capacity, administered Fakhrul’s oath.
At around 7:40pm, Hafiz presented a bouquet to the newly sworn-in president.
Another round of applause followed.
Moments later, Fakhrul was seated beneath the presidential crest, with the Bangladesh flag behind him, now no longer the president-elect but the president.
There was little time for the ceremony to linger.
Within minutes, the dais was being readied for the next constitutional formality.
The incoming cabinet members, who had been exchanging greetings with guests before the programme began, moved towards the front. Cameras and mobile phones went up again.
At around 7:42pm, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Andaleeve Rahman Partho, Rashiduzzaman Millat and Saching Prue stood before the president to take oath as ministers.
The four stood below the dais, oath folders in hand, as Fakhrul began administering their oath of office.
They repeated the words together.
Then came the oath of secrecy.
After taking the two oaths, the four signed the oath books.
At around 7:46pm, Ghani congratulated them, drawing another round of applause from the hall.
The programme then moved swiftly to the state ministers.
At around 7:47pm, the cabinet secretary announced the next part of the ceremony, referring to Article 56(2) of the Constitution, under which the president appoints ministers and state ministers.
By around 7:49pm, Prime Minister’s foreign affairs adviser Humaiun Kobir and MP Shamim Kaiser Lincoln had taken their places before the president.
Again, Fakhrul read from the oath.
The two repeated after him, first taking the oath of office and then the oath of secrecy.
They too signed the oath books.
At around 7:50pm, the formal programme was over.
Twenty-three minutes had passed since the ceremonial chime sounded.
In that short span, the Darbar Hall had seen the presidency formally change hands, the acting president return to the Speaker’s chair, the acting speaker return to his role as deputy speaker, and six members of the government take fresh oaths before a president who himself had taken office only minutes earlier.
