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Hasina sworn in as Bangladesh PM
Shaikh Hasina, the winner of Bangladesh's parliamentary election last month, was sworn in as the South Asian country's prime minister on Tuesday, ending two years of rule by an army-backed interim government.
- Reuters
- Published: 00:29 January 7, 2009
- President Iajuddin Ahmad administers the oath to Hasina as she is sworn in prime minister in Dhaka on Tuesday.
- Image Credit: Reuters
Dhaka: Shaikh Hasina, the winner of Bangladesh's parliamentary election last month, was sworn in as the South Asian country's prime minister on Tuesday, ending two years of rule by an army-backed interim government.
It will be her second time in the office.
"I have just assumed a very big responsibility," she said in brief comments after her swearing-in. "My priorities will include ensuring law and order, and bringing [commodity] prices down."
President Iajuddin Ahmad administered the oath of office to Hasina, 61, and her new ministers at a ceremony at the presidential palace attended by political leaders, high civil and military officials, diplomats and other dignitaries.
Hasina's Awami League and its allies won more than two-thirds of parliament's 300 seats in the December 29 election, with just 31 going to her bitter rival Khalida Zia'as Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its Islamist ally Jamaat-e-Islami.
Hasina and Khalida had alternated in power for 15 years ending in 2006, with Khalida winning two five-year terms and Hasina one.
The period was marked by frequent street protests, strikes and violence as whichever party was in opposition resorted to confrontational politics. The interim government took over amid violence in January 2007, cancelling an election due that month.
Since her victory Hasina has said she hopes for cooperation from all quarters, including the opposition.
Many Bangladeshis as well as foreign friends of the country hope her government will be stable enough to bring foreign investment and aid, and tackle the many serious problems facing the impoverished country of more than 140 million people.
Khalida sent a team of her BNP's newly elected legislators to attend Hasina's swearing in, although they themselves have not yet taken their oath from the speaker of parliament.
They will do so in a couple of days, BNP officials said on Tuesday.
Timeline: Years of tumult
- October 28, 2006: Khalida Zia steps down at end of a five-year term as prime minister.
- October 29: President Iajuddin Ahmad sworn in as head of a caretaker administration.
- January 3, 2007: Shaikh Hasina announces boycott of January 22 poll.
- January 11: President declares state of emergency and steps down as caretaker head, handing role to Fakhruddin Ahmad. The poll is cancelled.
- April 12: Murder charges filed against Hasina and more than 50 others over deaths of 10 activists in October 28 street protests.
- July 16: Hasina jailed by the army-backed interim government on charge of extorting $1 million from two businessmen while in power.
- September 3: Khalida and her businessman son arrested and detained by security forces on corruption charges.
- June 11: Hasina released on parole and flies to the US for treatment.
- September 9: Khalida gets bail after 12 months detention.
- September 16: Hasina granted bail in one of several corruption cases.
- November 6: Hasina returns to Dhaka from the United States.
- December 17: Bangladesh lifts two-year-old state of emergency.
- December 29: An alliance headed by Hasina wins 263 seats in the 300-seat parliament. The group led by Khalida wins 31 seats.
- January 6, 2009: Hasina is sworn in as prime minister.
- Reuters
Has democracy really returned to Bangladesh? Or are there still to many unanswered questions on the fairness of the elections?
Your comments
I hope that democracy is returned to Bangladesh. Now, I hope our nation will be successful in any manner and the new government be careful about Bangladesh.
Nurul Islam
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 07, 2009, 10:19
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