Veteran politician and parliamentarian Md Abdul Hamid Wednesday took oath as the 20th President of the country two days after the Election Commission declared him the new head of state as the lone candidate for the highest office.Acting Speaker Shawkat Ali administered the oath of office at an austere ceremony at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban at 7.30 pm. Swearing-in over, Abdul Hamid signed the oath of office.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the installation ceremony along with several hundred distinguished guests including cabinet members while Cabinet Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan conducted the ceremony.
Family members of the new president attended the function.
Chief Justice Md Mozammel Haque, former chief advisers of the caretaker government, members of parliament, Chief Election Commissioner, Judges of the Supreme Court, political leaders, chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force, diplomats, senior journalists including editors and senior civil and military officers witnessed the ceremony.
The Election Commission has declared Abdul Hamid as the country’s new President on Monday after expiry the last date for withdrawal of nomination paper for the presidency while he was the lone candidate for the post being the nominee of the ruling Awami League.
Prior to his election to presidency Abdul Hamid was Speaker of the 9th parliament.
Abdul Hamid became the acting president on March 14 in accordance with the constitution after President Zillur Rahman became indisposed and was flown to Singapore.
The office of the President fell vacant on March 20 when the President Zillur Rahman, died of old-age complications at Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth Hospital where he had been undergoing treatment for respiratory problems and other ailments.
Abdul Hamid is the long-time aide of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Awami politics who was elected seven times as Awami League’s Member of Parliament.
Son of late Hazi Mohammad Tayebuddin and late Tamiza Khatun, Hamid was born in Kamalpur village of Mithamoin Upazila in Kishoreganj on Jan 1, 1944.
Awami League Parliamentary Party (ALPP) nominated Hamid on Sunday as its candidate for presidential polls slated for April 29. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting. AL presidium members committee proposed Hamid for President. No opposition political parties, including BNP, had put up any candidate of their own against the ruling party candidate. BSS
