Acting President Hafiz Uddin holds office at Bangabhaban for first time

Acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmad has held office at the Bangabhaban for the first time since assuming the role to ensure constitutional continuity following the resignation of president Mohammed Shahabuddin.

Hafiz Uddin, who is also the speaker of parliament, arrived at Bangabhaban around 11:15am on Tuesday from his official residence at the parliament complex and took part in the routine official activities of the President's Office.

According to Presidential Press Secretary Mohammad Sarwar Alam, a contingent of the President's Guard Regiment (PGR) welcomed the acting president upon his arrival.

A ceremonial guard of honour followed.

Following the ceremony, Military Secretary Major General ASM  Bahauddin, Secretary of the Public Division Khan Md Nurul Amin, Press Secretary Mohammad Sarwar and Assistant Military Secretary Brigadier General Mohammad Raisul Islam greeted him with flowers at Bangabhaban's Octagon..

While he will Hafiz Uddin then entered his office, exchanged greetings with senior officials and received briefings from the military secretary and the public division secretary before formally beginning work.

He will carry out official duties from Bangabhaban as acting president but continue to live at the speaker's official residence in the parliament complex.

Shahabuddin resigned on Jul 24, citing serious health problems.

Under the Constitution, the speaker assumes the role of acting president until a new president is elected.

After assuming the role, Hafiz on Sunday paid tribute to the martyrs of Bangladesh's Liberation War at the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar.

He later returned to Dhaka to pay respects at the graves of late president Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia.