Bangladesh presidential election: Voting under way; 349 lawmakers to cast their ballots
Bangladesh is holding its first contested presidential election in 35 years, with 349 lawmakers voting between BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and LDP's Oli Ahmed. The election follows the resignation of the previous president and is expected to result in a victory for the BNP, which holds a parliamentary majority.
Why it matters
This election marks a significant shift in Bangladesh's political landscape, moving away from decades of uncontested presidential appointments toward a more competitive democratic process.
Bangladesh's presidential election got under way on Thursday, with lawmakers voting to elect the country's 23rd president in the first contested poll for the post in 35 years.
The voting, which will continue till 5 p.m. local time, is taking place in the Jatiya Sangsad (parliament), with 349 lawmakers eligible to cast their ballots. The election is being conducted through an open ballot.
Ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, 78, is facing Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed, 84, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) chairperson and the nominee of the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party Opposition alliance.
The Election Commission is expected to announce the result after completion of the counting of votes and publish it in the official gazette.
The president-elect will take the oath as Bangladesh's new president on Friday evening (August 21, 2026) at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban.
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