Veteran freedom fighter and politician Mohammad Sahabuddin was sworn in as the 22nd president of Bangladesh at an ceremony in the packed Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban Monday morning.

Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury administered the oath of the office of the president in the capital at 11:00am.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique, PM’s sister Sheikh Rehana, cabinet members and several hundred distinguished guests attended the state ceremony.

Cabinet secretary Md Mahbub Hossain conducted the programme.

Earlier, wearing a black Mujib coat and a white panjabi, new President Sahabuddin, along with outgoing president Abdul Hamid and the Speaker entered the Durbar Hall at 10:55am.

A military band played ceremonial music at that time.

After the swearing-in ceremony, new president Mohammad Sahabuddin and outgoing president M Abdul Hamid officially alter their respective seats as part of changing charge of the office.

Subsequently, president Sahabuddin and Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury signed the oath documents of the office.

The president exchanged greetings with guests after he was sworn in.

President Sahabuddin’s family members, including his wife Rebecca Sultana and son Arshad Adnan Rony, while outgoing president Hamid’s family members, including his wife Rashida Khanam and son Rezwan Ahammad Taufiq, among others, attended the function.

Deputy Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad Shamsul Haque Tuku, deputy leader of the opposition in parliament GM Quader, whips, members of parliament, heads of the diplomatic missions, chiefs of different international agencies, state ministers, chief election commissioner, Supreme Court judges, heads of the different tribunal or commission or institute, political leaders, chiefs of the three services, principal secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office, Inspector General of Police, diplomats, senior journalists, including editors, and high-ranking civil and military officials witnessed the ceremony.

Earlier, the 73-year-old politician was elected as the 22nd president of Bangladesh on February 13, 2023.

Mohammad Sahabuddin was born on December 10 in 1949 in Shibrampur’s Jubilee Tank area of Pabna Town. His nickname is Chuppu. His father’s name is Sharfuddin Ansari and mother Khairunnessa.

He obtained his MSc degree from Rajshahi University in 1974. He later passed LLB and BCS (Law) examinations.

President Sahabuddin was general secretary of Pabna Edward College unit of Chhatra League, president of Pabna District Chhatra League and Juba League later also. He was the joint secretary of Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League of the district unit and publicity secretary of Awami League district unit.

Sahabuddin actively participated in Six-Point Movement in 1966, Bhutta (Maize) Movement in 1967, mass-uprising in 1969, election of 1970 and Liberation War in 1971.

He was in the frontline organiser of Pabna district movement and raised protest soon after the brutal incidents on August 15, 1975. Subsequently he was imprisoned for three years and subjected to inhuman torture by the then military dictators.

The president was also involved in journalism (Dainik Banglar Bani) and a good numbers of articles were also published at different vernacular dailies.

During his career, he served as District and Sessions Judge and Anti-Corruption Commission Commissioner.

The Head of the State also served as the director of the Prime Minister’s Office and the coordinator assigned to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs in the Bangabandhu Murder Case.

He was elected secretary general of BCS (Judiciary) Association twice in a row. After retirement from service, he was engaged in legal profession in the High Court.

President Sahabuddin later served as the chairman of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry in the investigation into the 2001 post-election violence.

As the ACC commissioner, he proved his deep firmness in dealing with the ‘so-called corruption’ plot against the Padma Bridge project.

The former student leader, Mohammad Sahabuddin, also served as a member of Bangladesh Awami League’s Advisory Council and the Chairman of the party’s Central Publicity and Publication Sub-Committee.