Newly elected President Abdur Rahman Biswas formally took oath of office at a simple ceremony at the darbar hall of Bangabhaban on Wednesday.

The oath was administered by Acting Chief Justice of Bangladesh Justice M H Rahman.

The oath taking marked the completion of the process of transition to parliamentary democracy after sixteen years of presidential rule.

Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, Ministers, Members of Parliament, high civil and military officials were present at the 9-mlnute ceremony.

With the taking of oath of Abdur Rahman Biswas Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed automatically ceased to be the Acting President of Bangladesh.

There was no formal handing over of power, because the Constitution 11th Amendment Act does not provide for that. Justice Shahabuddin went to his Bangabhaban office on Wednesday morning and was accorded a farewell by his staff. He was not present at the swearing tn ceremony of President Abdur Rahman Biswas.

Abdur Rahman Biswas, earlier on Tuesday, won the presidential election by securing at total of 172 votes against 92 votes secured by his Awami League backed rival Justice Badrul Halder Chowdhury.

The Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hastna and

members of Parliament belonging to Awami League, Jatlya Party, the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Ganatantrf Party and National Awami Party were absent from the oath taking ceremony. AL sources said their MPs did not joins the function as they complained, their cooperation was not being reciprocated by BNP in the presidential election.

Moulana Matiur Jiahman Nizami and some.other MPs of Jamaat, Rashed Khan Menon and Hasanul Huq Inu of 5-party, Shahjahan Siraj of Jatlya Samajtantrtk Dal. Salahuddln Quader Chowdhury of National Democratic Party, independent MPs Maj (Retd) Hafizuddin and Nurul Islam Monl were among those present at the function.

Abdur Rahman Biswas accompanied by Chief Election Commissioner Justice M A Rouf entered the Darbar 11 all of the Bangabhaban right at 4-30 pm. The short oath taking ceremony was preceded by play ing of the national anthem and recitation from verses of the Holy Quran.

After taking the oath the President signed the oath. And the function ended with the playing of the national anthem.

After the swearing in ceremony President Abdur Rahman Biswas told newsmen he would try his best for the development and welfare of the people. He thanked the people,

leaders and members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party on the occasion.

The taking over of the new President also marked the end of the spectacular 307 days of power of Acting President Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed who Is now free to resume his office as the Chief Justice of Bangladesh.

Justice Shahabuddin took over from President Ershad who was forced to resign on December 6 nt the height of mass upsurge in the winter of 1991. He was the consensus candidate of the major political alliances and parties for heading a non-partisan caretaker government for holding free and fair elections to the Parliament and handing over power to people's representatives.

It was under his stewardship that the nation had a free and fair election to the Parliament on February 27, 1991. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party which commanded a majority in the Hoyse formed government on March 20. Subsequently, on August 6 midnight all the parties represented in Parliament unanimously passed the Constitution 12th Amendment Bill which was endorsed by the people through the September 15 referendum. The passage of the 12lh Amendment Bill paved the way for transition to parliamentary democracy. And . Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and 39 other ministers. State Ministers and Deputy Ministers took fresh oath of office on September 19 under the new system.

Election of President under the amended constitution was held on Tuesday, after the Supreme Court had rejected prayers for temporary stay of the election the day before. Abdus Samad Azad and six other MPs of Awami League, Gana tan tri Party and NAP, and Barrister Moudud Ahmed of Jatlya Party had filed two writ Eetitions challenging the lectiort of President Act 1991, and the convening of meeting of the members of Parliament at the Jatlya Sangsad chamber by the Election Commission for the elections.

A single bench comprising Justin I'.ibtbur Rahman Khan of the High Court Division of Supreme Court heard the stay part' of the petitions and refused to stay the election.

Awami League which had backed the candidature of Justice Badrul Haider Chowdhury fruitlessly tried to project him as the consensus candidate of the opposition. All other opposition political parties except Ganatantri Dal refused to support the candida- < ture of Justice Chowdhury on the ground that they were not consulted before the submission of his nomination paper.

After the swearing-in ceremony Law Minister Mirza Golam Hafiz told newsmen it was the real start of parliamentary democracy. Form today the President should forget that he belonged to a party, and uphold the constitutional process', he said. Democracy now needed to be institutionalised with the same spirit with which the Constitution 12th Amendment Act was passed unanimously, he said.

Jamaat Leader Moulana Matlur Rahman Nizami hoped that the new President would uphold the constitutional role of his post even though he was elected on a party ticket.

Shahjahan SiraJ of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (SiraJ) hoped that Abdur Rahman Biswas would uphold national unity, and help narrow down the difference between political parties for consolidation of democracy.