Rahman sworn in as 19th president

Dhaka: Veteran politician Zillur Rahman on Thursday took the oath as the 19th president of Bangladesh a day after the Election Commission declared him the new head of the state-elect as the lone candidate for the highest office.

Chief Justice M.M. Ruhul Amin administered the oath of office at an austere ceremony at the Bangabhaban presidential palace last evening.

Guests witnessing the ceremony gave him a standing ovation as the swearing-in was over.

Prime Minister Shaikh Hasina and outgoing President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmad joined the installation ceremony.

Rahman, who was the senior-most senior leader of Hasina's Awami League, was the lone candidate for presidency as the nominee of the ruling party.

He succeeded Ahmad, a former university professor, who quit on expiry of his tenure as the titular head of the state as the nominee of former prime minister Khalida Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

"I will do everything possible within my limited capability for safeguarding democracy and people's welfare. You know well that the president enjoys limited power [under parliamentary form of government]. I will do my job as best I can within those limits," Rahman earlier told reporters.