Bangladesh holds presidential election in first contested vote in 35 years
Bangladesh is conducting its first contested presidential election in 35 years, featuring BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir against Oli Ahmad. The vote follows the resignation of the previous president and is seen as a symbolic step in the country's institutional transition.
Why it matters
This election marks a significant shift in Bangladesh's political landscape following the 2024 uprising and the end of long-term autocratic rule.
Ruling BNP’s Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is pitted against former army officer Oli Ahmad, nominee of Jamaat-led 11-party alliance.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir [File: Elke Scholiers/Getty Images] By Moudud Ahmmed Sujan Published On 20 Aug 2026 20 Aug 2026 Dhaka, Bangladesh – Bangladesh is holding its first contested presidential election in 35 years, with the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir pitted against former army officer Oli Ahmad, the nominee of the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party opposition alliance.
A total of 349 members of parliament are eligible to vote in the parliamentary chamber between 08:00 GMT and 11:00 GMT on Thursday, with the result expected hours later, according to Bangladesh’s Election Commission.
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