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The Deputy Speaker is constitutionally authorised to administer the oath of office to Bangladesh’s newly elected president, according to an opinion issued by the Law Ministry.
The ministry said Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed is currently performing the duties of acting president under Article 54 of the Constitution. As a result, the Deputy Speaker is discharging all functions of the Speaker in accordance with Article 74(3), including the constitutional responsibility of administering the president’s oath.
The Cabinet Division had earlier sought the Law Ministry’s opinion to clarify the constitutional provisions and procedure for administering the oath to the new president. After reviewing the matter, the ministry provided its opinion.
The presidential election is scheduled for Thursday, with BNP-nominated candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir set to face Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram, the candidate of the 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami.
With the BNP holding more than a two-thirds majority in parliament, Fakhrul is widely expected to win. However, as there are two candidates, voting will be held in accordance with the constitutional provisions.
A total of 349 members of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, including 50 reserved women members, are eligible to vote. The Chattogram-4 seat is currently vacant after the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division cancelled BNP candidate Aslam Chowdhury’s candidature and his opportunity to take oath as an MP.
The newly elected president is scheduled to take the oath at 7:30pm on Friday at the Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban.
Although the ceremony will be held at the presidential palace, the Cabinet Division will oversee the arrangements.
The acting president, prime minister, speaker, chief justice and other senior state and government officials are expected to attend the ceremony.
The last contested presidential election was held on October 8, 1991, at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. BNP candidate Abdur Rahman Biswas won with 172 votes, defeating Awami League candidate Badruddoza Ahmed, who received 92 votes.
Biswas subsequently served as president of Bangladesh