Bangladesh to hold presidential election on Thursday
Bangladesh is set to hold its presidential election on Thursday, August 19, 2026, marking the first such vote in 35 years. Lawmakers will choose between Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir of the ruling BNP and Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed, representing an 11-party opposition alliance. The election was triggered by the resignation of the previous president, Mohammed Shahabuddin, on health grounds.
Why it matters
This election is a significant political event for Bangladesh, potentially shaping its future leadership and political landscape after a long hiatus in direct presidential elections. It reflects the country's evolving democratic processes.
Bangladesh will hold its presidential election on Thursday (August 19, 2026), with lawmakers set to choose between the ruling BNP stalwart Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and 11-party Opposition alliance candidate Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed.
The voting will take place for the first time in a presidential election after a gap of 35 years.
The voting will be held at the Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad) from 2:00 p.m. to 5 p.m. on August 20, according to the Election Commission.
Mr. Alamgir, 78, is the candidate of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), while Colonel (retd) Ahmed, Bir Bikram, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), is contesting as the candidate of the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party opposition alliance.
The Election Commission declared their nomination papers valid on August 16.
Speaking at the BNP parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday, Mr. Alamgir appealed to the BNP lawmakers to vote for him in Thursday's presidential election.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in