Bangladesh president takes oath as caretaker head

DHAKA, Oct 29 (Reuters) Bangladeshi President Iajuddin Ahmed was sworn in today as head of an interim caretaker administration to steer the country through to elections in January.

State television showed Chief Justice JR Mudassir Hossain administering the oath of office to Iajuddin at the presidential palace, Bangabhaban. The president intervened after former Supreme Court chief justice KM Hasan backed out of an arrangement to take the reins temporarily after the expiry of Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia's five-year term.

The major opposition parties opposed the appointment of Iajuddin as caretaker head of government.

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