Awami League President Sheikh Hasina took the reins on Thursday as Prime Minister of Bangladesh for the fourth straight consecutive term defying all most a year-long protest and criticism both from home and abroad.

President Shahabuddin administered the oath of office and oath of secrecy to Sheikh Hasina and her new ministers at Durbar Hall of his official residence Bangabhaban at 7.06pm.

Sheikh Hasina, elder daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was given a standing ovation by the guests at Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban as she was sworn in by President Mohammed Shahabuddin.

After the swearing-in, Sheikh Hasina signed the oath of office and oath of secrecy.

BSS adds: The ministers, who took oath, are: AKM Mozammel Haque (Gazipur-1), Obaidul Quader (Noakhali-5), Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun (Narsingdi-4), Asaduzzaman Khan (Dhaka-12), Dr Dipu Moni (Chandpur-3), Md Tajul Islam (Cumilla-9), Muhammad Faruk Khan (Gopalganj-1), Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali (Dinajpur-4), Anisul Huq (Brahmanbaria-4), Dr Hasan Mahmud (Chattogram-7), Md Abdus Shahid (Moulvibazar-4), Sadhan Chandra Majumder (Naogaon-1), RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury (Brahmanbaria-3), Md Abdur Rahman (Faridpur-1), Narayan Chandra Chanda (Khulna-5), Abdus Salam (Mymensingh-9), Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury (Chattogram-9), Farhad Hossain (Meherpur-1), Md Faridul Haque Khan (Jamalpur-2), Md Zillul Hakim (Rajbari-2), Saber Hossain Chowdhury (Dhaka-9), Jahangir Kabir Nanak (Dhaka-13), Nazmul Hasan (Kishoreganj-6), Architect Yeafesh Osman (technocrat) and Samanta Lal Sen (technocrat).

The state ministers are: Simeen Hussain Rimi (Gazipur-4), Nasrul Hamid (Dhaka-3), Zunaid Ahmed Palak (Natore-3), Mohammad Ali Arafat (Dhaka-17), Md Mahibbur Rahman (Patuakhali-4), Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury (Dinajpur-2), Zaheed Farooque, (Barishal-5), Kujendra Lal Tripura (Khagrachhari), Rumana Ali (Gazipur-3), Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury (Sylhet-2) and Ahsanul Islam Titu (Tangail-6).

Guests present at the jam-packed glittering Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban included Jatiya Sangsad Speaker, Chief Justice, Chief Election Commissioner, Judges of the Supreme Court, MPs, political leaders, chiefs of the three services, members of diplomatic corps, journalists, and high civil and military officials.

President's spouse Dr Rebecca Sultana, PM's youngest sister Sheikh Rehana and other family members were present at the function.

Attired in a white Jamdani saree, Sheikh Hasina was looking confident and lively at the Durbar Hall. The spacious hall was overflowing with the invited guests, while many of them were seen standing along the walls.

Sheikh Hasina was given a standing ovation when she entered the Durbar Hall at 6.55pm. Minutes later President Shahabuddin entered the Durbar Hall where the Prime Minister took oath at 7.06pm.

The ceremony began with the recitation from the holy Quran.

Sheikh Hasina took oath first pledging to preserve, protect and defend the national constitution and the state sovereignty.

Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain conducted the oath-taking function, while around 1,400 guests were invited to witness the historic ceremony.

On January 7, the 12th parliament election was held in 299 seats. The Awami League attained a resounding victory bagging 222 seats with 'boat' symbol.

The Jatiya Party won 11 seats and independent candidates 62 seats, partners of the Awami League-led 14-party combine-Workers Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasod) got one seat each. Bangladesh Kalyan Party won one seat in the polls.

Earlier, people had assembled in processions from different parts of the capital, chanting slogans hailing Sheikh Hasina.