Dhaka: Veteran politician Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will be sworn in as the 23rd President of Bangladesh this evening. The oath-taking ceremony will be held at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban at 7:30 pm, with Acting Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal administering the oath of office.

According to United News of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, cabinet members, and hundreds of distinguished guests are expected to attend the event. Mirza Fakhrul, a BNP candidate, was elected President after defeating his only rival, Col (retd) Oli Ahmad, who was the candidate of the 11-party opposition alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. The presidential election took place on Thursday.

Out of 343 valid votes, Mirza Fakhrul secured 255, while his opponent Oli Ahmad received 88. Among the 349 voters, six lawmakers did not participate in the presidential election. The absentee voters included BNP lawmakers Mirza Abbas, Mostafa Kamal Pasha, and Dr. Muhammad Osman Farruk, as well as independent lawmaker Rumeen Farhana and Jamaat lawmaker Gazi Nazrul Islam.

The Election Commission subsequently issued a gazette notification declaring Mirza Fakhrul as the elected President of Bangladesh.