Newly elected Bangladeshi lawmakers sworn in

Dhaka, Bangladesh, January 15, SPA --Bangladesh's newly elected
opposition lawmakers from a four-party alliance led by
former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia were sworn in today, according to
AP.

Zia's alliance won only 33 out of 300 parliamentary seats
after a sound defeat in elections last month by a 15-party
alliance headed by Sheikh Hasina, the country's new prime
minister.

The elections came after two years of emergency rule by a
military-backed interim government and were the first in
seven years.

Hasina, who was prime minister from 1996-2001, was sworn
in as the head of the new government on Jan. 6. She is
currently leading a 32-member Cabinet.

Parliament Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar said he swore in the
opposition lawmakers today.

--SPA