Dhaka: Just months before a general election, Mohammed Shahabuddin, a former judge and official in the ruling party, was sworn in as president of Bangladesh on Monday.
According to the presidential palace, Shahabuddin, 73, served as an anti-corruption commissioner and participated in the nation's war for independence in 1971.
Shampad Barua, the president's secretary, reported that "he was sworn in today as the 22nd president of the People's Republic of Bangladesh."
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After the ruling Awami League party nominated him rather than the speaker of parliament, who was thought to be the front-runner, he was chosen by lawmakers in February.
Abdul Hamid, a former speaker and pillar of the Awami League, was replaced by Shahabuddin after his second term ended on Monday.
The country is currently experiencing escalating protests over the upcoming general election, which is set to take place in January 2024.
In recent months, the opposition has organised a number of sizable demonstrations to call for the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the holding of free and fair elections under a caretaker administration.
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Hasina, who has been in power since 2009, is accused by the opposition of rigging the previous two elections, and Western nations and human rights organisations have also expressed concern. The demand was turned down by Hasina.
The otherwise largely ceremonial presidential office could end up playing a bigger role if Hasina were forced to resign or if the protests turned violent. Shahabuddin now commands the military, despite having few authority in his new role.
Shahabuddin received a message of congratulations from Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, according to China's official news agency Xinhua.
Beijing has committed billions of dollars to infrastructure projects in the 170 million-person South Asian nation as part of its Belt and Road initiative, as it competes with Western nations for influence there. A $12.65 billion nuclear power plant outside of Dhaka is also being built by Russia to strengthen the shaky electricity infrastructure of the nation.
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According to a report from Bloomberg News last week, Bangladesh has agreed to pay Russia roughly $300 million in yuan to settle the bill for constructing the facility.