China congratulates Mirza Fakhrul on election as Bangladesh president

China has congratulated Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on his election as president of Bangladesh, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Friday.

Lin told a daily news briefing when responding to a query on the fact that Alamgir, candidate of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party, was elected as Bangladesh's 23rd president on Thursday, reports UNB.

"China attaches great importance to developing China‑Bangladesh relations," said Lin, adding that China stands ready to work with the Bangladeshi government to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, advance the high‑quality Belt and Road cooperation, expand exchanges and cooperation across various fields, and steadily advance the building of a China‑Bangladesh community with a shared future in the new era.

Foreign countries, alongside international media have given significant attention to Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s election as Bangladesh’s 23rd president, focusing on the country’s first contested presidential vote in 35 years, his decades-long political career and the broader political transition underway in Bangladesh.

Major international outlets largely approached the election through Fakhrul’s political biography and his journey from freedom fighter, teacher and longtime opposition politician to the country’s highest constitutional office.

Fakhrul, 78, defeated Col (retd) Oli Ahmad, the candidate of the opposition Jamaat-led 11-party alliance, in the parliamentary vote on August 20. He secured 255 votes against Oli’s 88.

The veteran politician will be sworn in as the 23rd President of Bangladesh this evening.

The oath-taking ceremony will be held at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban at 7:30pm.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad will administer the oath of the office of the President, according to Bangabhaban.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, cabinet members, and hundreds of distinguished guests are expected to attend the event.