September 19, Kathmandu – Bangladesh is set to hold its presidential election today after a gap of 35 years. Voting in the parliament will take place from 2 PM to 5 PM local time. The election sees a contest between the ruling party’s candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, a BNP leader, and Colonel Oli Ahmad, representing an 11-party opposition alliance.
The BNP returned to power following the general election held earlier this year on February 12. The party holds more than a two-thirds majority in parliament, making Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s victory highly likely. Alamgir is an economist by profession and has been involved in BNP politics since the 1990s. He previously served as the State Minister of Agriculture and as a Local Minister.
The vote count will be broadcast live, and the winner is scheduled to be sworn in tomorrow. A total of 349 parliamentarians are participating in the election. The newly elected president will take the oath tomorrow evening at the Bangabhaban’s Darbar Hall.
The election follows the resignation last month of Mohammad Shahabuddin, a close aide of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who stepped down for health reasons before completing his five-year term. Currently, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed is serving as acting president. According to Bangladesh’s constitution, a presidential election must be held within 90 days of the vacancy of the office.
