BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Alamgir wins Bangladesh presidential election
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party has been elected as the 23rd president of Bangladesh. This marks the first contested presidential election in the country in 35 years, following his resignation from his party's leadership roles.
Why it matters
This election represents a significant political transition in Bangladesh, signaling a shift in the nation's leadership structure and parliamentary dynamics.
Bangladesh has elected senior Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as its 23rd president, marking a significant shift for a politician who until recently held one of the party's top organisational posts.Alamgir secured 255 votes in Thursday's presidential election held at the Jatiya Sangsad, Bangladesh's Parliament. His rival, Oli Ahmed, the candidate backed by an 11-party opposition alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP), received 88 votes.The voting took place between 2 pm and 5 pm local time under the supervision of chief election commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin. Of the 349 MPs eligible to vote, 343 cast their ballots. The chief election commissioner later announced Alamgir as the winner.A contested presidential election after 35 yearsThursday's poll was notable because it was the first time in 35 years that more than one candidate contested Bangladesh's presidential election.
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