Sheikh Hasina sworn in as Bangladesh PM for fifth term

Sheikh Hasina took the oath of office as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for her fifth term on Thursday, following her Awami League party’s resounding victory in the general elections which were boycotted by the main opposition BNP and its allies. President Mohammad Shahabuddin administered the oath of office to 76-year-old Sheikh Hasina at a ceremony joined by politicians, foreign diplomats, civil society figures and senior civil and military officials. Following the Prime Minister, the new members of the cabinet were sworn in by the president. Sheikh Hasina’s party won 223 seats in the 300-member Parliament. Major opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia boycotted the elections after their demand for a non-party caretaker government to oversee the January 7 polls was rejected. With inputs from PTI.