By Nusrat Jahan Shoronika

The highest office in a state is not always the most powerful one sometimes, it is the office that carries the greatest responsibility. Therefore, viewing the presidency merely as a symbol of state protocol would be to underestimate its true significance. During times of crisis, when state institutions face pressure and political divisions push society in different directions, the position of a neutral and responsible president can become a source of public trust.

On August 20, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was elected as the 23rd President of Bangladesh. He secured 255 votes in Parliament, while his opponent Oli Ahmed received 88 votes. The election was significant for a particular reason, it was the first time since 1991 that more than one candidate contested the presidential election in Bangladesh. According to Article 48 of the Constitution, the President is elected by members of Parliament and serves as the Head of State. Although the President is not directly elected by the people, the office remains an important symbol of the people's aspirations and the country's constitutional system. However, in Bangladesh's parliamentary system, the President's executive powers are limited. The executive power of the government rests primarily with the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. As a result, the President's role is largely constitutional, ceremonial and centered on maintaining institutional balance. But limited power does not necessarily mean limited responsibility.

Expectations from the President

The first expectation of the people from a president is that he should rise above partisan identity and become a symbol of the state. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has had a long political career as a prominent leader of a particular political party. His greatest challenge after assuming the presidency lies precisely here. He must leave his long political identity behind and establish a position where the government, opposition, people with differing political views and even politically neutral citizens all feel that they receive equal respect from the President. People expect a president who will not merely attend state ceremonies but will also contribute to restoring public confidence in state institutions. Bangladesh's recent political history, in particular, has shown that democracy does not survive through elections alone. When institutions such as Parliament, the judiciary, the Election Commission and the media function independently and responsibly within their respective spheres, along with the protection of citizens' rights, democracy becomes stronger. One of the President's key moral responsibilities should therefore be to respect the dignity and independence of these constitutional institutions.

The President's Importance in Sustaining Democracy

The President does not possess direct executive authority like the Prime Minister or the government. Nevertheless, the constitutional position of the Head of State remains important. The Constitution assigns the President specific powers and responsibilities, while the President also takes an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. The President is also the Supreme Commander of the armed forces. Therefore, the President's greatest strength may not be administrative power but moral authority. Suppose a political crisis creates a growing distance between the government and the opposition. Tensions rise in Parliament, and political sides begin to distrust one another. In such a situation, if the President emphasizes dialogue, tolerance and constitutional means while keeping the Constitution and national interests at the forefront, his position can send a message of stability. The President is not expected to take the side of any political party. Rather, his position should be in favor of the Constitution, the rule of law and the rights of the people.

Why Is This Balance Important?

The greatest threat to democracy does not always come from outside. Sometimes, democratic institutions themselves become weakened from within. When partisan loyalty takes precedence over state responsibility, public confidence in state institutions gradually begins to erode. In our political culture, the distinction between the ruling party and the state often becomes blurred. Yet in a democratic country, governments will change, political parties will change and leaders will change but state institutions must endure. The President's responsibility is to represent that continuity. Therefore, the greatest test before the newly elected President will be how he leaves his past political identity behind and establishes himself as a guardian of the interests of the entire state.

The first requirement in this regard is an unwavering commitment to constitutionalism. Every decision and action of the President should be guided by the Constitution. Second, the Office of the President should be established as a stronger source of public trust. A culture of regular dialogue with civil society, academics, young people, professionals and people holding diverse political views could help create such an environment. Third, the President's moral role in protecting the independence and dignity of important state institutions should become more visible. Strong democratic institutions cannot be built around the influence of any single individual. Finally, political tolerance is essential. Rather than treating opposing views as enemies, they must be accepted as a natural part of democracy. The President can play an important role in encouraging such a culture of tolerance and coexistence.

We often view the presidency through the lens of ceremony and protocol. Yet history shows that there are moments when the moral position taken by the person occupying an office determines its true significance. For the newly elected President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, therefore, the responsibility is not merely a five-year constitutional assignment. It is also an opportunity to create a new space of public trust in a politically transformed Bangladesh. The people may not expect major political promises from him. What they want is for the President to belong to the state, not to any political party. They want him to place the Constitution above power, give greater importance to his identity as a citizen than to his political past, and speak the language of unity rather than division during times of crisis. Because democracy is not born merely at the ballot box. Democracy survives through institutions, the rule of law, freedom of expression, political tolerance and people's trust in the state. The presidency is a symbol of that trust. And the greatest achievement of the new President will come when people can see Bangabhaban not merely as a center of power, but as a reliable institution representing the Constitution, justice and the dignity of the state.
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Nusrat Jahan Shoronika
Student, Department of Mass Communication and Journalism
Jagannath University, Dhaka
Mobile: 01648765722
Email: njahan0917@gmail.com