An aide says Bangladesh’s figurehead President Iajuddin Ahmed has been hospitalized with high fever.

President Ahmed, 77, was admitted to the Combined Military Hospital late Monday for observation after suffering from a viral fever, Sirajul Islam, Secretary to the President’s Office, said.

The president’s role is mostly ceremonial in Bangladesh _ a Westminister-style parliamentary democracy.

Ahmed, however, came to prominence when he briefly took over as a caretaker leader ahead of elections, which were scheduled for January 2007.

He later canceled the elections following violent opposition protests, declared a state of emergency and handed over power to an interim government backed by the country’s influential military.