Bangladesh elects ruling party’s Alamgir as president

Bangladesh's ruling party candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been elected as the country's 23rd president on Thursday. The 78-year-old, secretary-general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and local government minister, secured 255 votes out of the total 543 cast, defeating opposition candidate Oli Ahmad who received 88 votes.

This is the first time in 35 years that a parliamentary vote was held to elect the president, with the previous presidential election taking place in 1991. Alamgir expressed his dream of a prosperous and welfare-oriented state where marginalised communities can afford two meals a day before the vote. The presidency of Alamgir comes after the resignation of his predecessor Mohammed Shahabuddin, who stepped down citing ill health.

Bangladesh's ally China congratulated Alamgir, looking forward to a shared future in the new era. The presidency vote follows the resignation of the previous president in July, with the election occurring in the same month.