DHAKA, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, a senior leader of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was sworn in as the country's 23rd president on Friday.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, cabinet members and hundreds of distinguished guests attended the oath-taking ceremony at the presidential palace in Dhaka at around 7:30 p.m.
Alamgir, candidate of the BNP, was elected Bangladesh's 23rd president in a presidential election held on Thursday.
The presidential election was held to fill the vacancy left by former President Mohammed Shahabuddin Chuppu, who tendered his resignation on July 24.
The president of Bangladesh is elected by members of parliament. The ruling BNP currently holds an absolute majority in parliament. ■