Awami League president Sheikh Hasina on Thursday took oath as Prime Minister for the fourth consecutive term and formed government for the fifth time aiming at building a smart Bangladesh with non-stop progress and free from corruption.
President Mohammad Sahabuddin administered oath of office and oath of secrecy to Sheikh Hasina and the members of her new cabinet at Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban.
The new 37-member cabinet comprises 25 ministers and 11 state ministers.
Many heavyweights, who served the previous government, have been dropped from this cabinet.
The President appointed Sheikh Hasina as Prime Minister of the country under the Article 56 clause (3) of the Constitution.
The Prime Minister stood up to the left of the President and took oath. She was followed by ministers and state ministers.
After the swearing-in, Sheikh Hasina signed the affidavit of oath of office and oath of secrecy.
Attired in a white Jamdani saree, Sheikh Hasina was looking confident and lively at the Darbar Hall. The spacious hall was full to the brim with the invited guests and many of them were seen standing along the walls. Sheikh Hasina
was given a standing ovation when she entered the Durbar Hall at 6.55pm. Minutes later President Mohammad Shahabuddin entered the Darbar Hall where the Prime Minister took oath at 7.06pm.
The ceremony began with the recitation from the holy Quran.
Sheikh Hasina took oath first pledging to preserve, protect and defend the national Constitution and the state sovereignty.
Awami League has got the responsibility to run the country after winning the January 7 polls boycotted by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Sheikh Hasina will make a history of running the country for 20 years in a row if she can complete her new term in office.
None of the state actors, who had ruled the country in the past, got the opportunity to run the country for the fifth term.
Sheikh Hasina first led her party Awami League to office through 1996 national polls 21 years after the assassination of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. She took oath as Prime Minister on June 23 that year.
The Awami League president formed government for the second term on January 6 after winning the December 29, 2008 election with an absolute majority in parliament.
Sheikh Hasina took oath as Prime Minister for the consecutive second term on January 12 after winning the January 5, 2014 elections boycotted by the BNP-led alliance.
She formed the government for the third term on January 7 in 2019 after winning the December 30 national election held with the participation of all registered political parties.
Sheikh Hasina is the country’s lone premier who has served the country for 15 years in a row.
Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal, Judges of the Supreme Court, MPs, political leaders, chiefs of the three services, members of diplomatic corps, journalists, and high civil and military officials attended the ceremony.
President's spouse Dr Rebecca Sultana and Sheikh Rehana, younger sister of Sheikh Hasina, were also present at the ceremony.
Jatiya Party chairman GM Quader, Workers Party of Bangladesh president Rashed Khan Menon, Samyabadi Dal’s Dilip Barua and Krishak Sramik Janata League president Kader Siddiqui, among others, were also present at the jam-packed Darbar Hall.
The gate of the Bangabhaban opened at about 5:30pm for the ministers and invited guests. Around 1,400 guests were invited to witness the historic ceremony.
Darbar Hall became jam-packed before the entry of the Prime Minister who stepped in the hall at about 6:55pm. All received her with big claps.
The bugle was played just two minutes later and President Mohammad Sahabuddin entered the Hall. All stood on their feet as mark of respect when national anthem was played.
Later, Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain sought President’s permission to conduct the oath-taking ceremony.
At the end of oath taking ceremony, the President and Prime Minister exchanged greetings with the new cabinet members, distinguished guests and dignitaries.
The 12th parliament elections were held in 298 seats on January 7. The AL attained a resounding victory bagging 222 seats with Boat symbol.
The Jatiya Party won 11 seats, independent candidates 62 seats while partners of the AL-led 14-party alliance -Workers Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasod) got one seat each. Bangladesh Kalyan Party also won one seat in the polls.
