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BNP-nominated candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been elected as Bangladesh’s 23rd president, securing 255 votes in the presidential election held on Thursday.
His rival, Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and candidate of the 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami, received 88 votes.
Voting began at 2pm in the chamber of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban and concluded at 5pm. Vote counting began immediately after polling ended.
A total of 349 members of parliament were eligible to vote in the election, which was held after a gap of 35 years. Under Article 70 of the Constitution, lawmakers are generally bound to follow their party’s decision when voting. Independent lawmakers, however, were free to vote for either candidate.
Acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram cast the first vote, followed by Acting Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal and Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman. BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir then cast his vote.
Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin served as the election officer for the presidential election. The Election Commission appointed 20 officials to assist him in conducting the poll.
The election marked the first direct parliamentary vote for the presidency in Bangladesh in 35 years.
