Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has wished President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir a successful and dignified tenure, saying the new head of state has taken office with a commitment to upholding democracy, constitutional dignity and the aspirations of the people.

In a post on his verified Facebook page at 11:54pm on Friday, the prime minister wrote, “Mr Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has taken oath as the 23rd Honourable President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, upholding democracy, constitutional dignity and the expectations of the people.”

“I extend my sincere best wishes for his responsible, successful and dignified journey in the highest constitutional office of the state,” he added.

Mirza Fakhrul took oath as the country’s president at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban on Friday evening. Speaker-in-charge Barrister Kayser Kamal administered the oath. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, former chief adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman, cabinet members, political leaders and diplomats attended the ceremony.

Fakhrul was elected president on Thursday with 255 votes, defeating Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance candidate Col (retd) Oli Ahmed, who secured 88 votes. The election was the country’s first contested presidential race since 1991.

The veteran BNP leader had served as the party’s secretary general since 2016 and remained one of its most prominent public faces during years of opposition politics. He resigned from the post after BNP nominated him for the presidency on August 13.