Bangladesh lawmakers set to elect Alamgir president
With the ruling party holding more than a two-thirds majority in parliament, the veteran BNP politician is expected to secure the largely ceremonial presidency.
On Thursday, Bangladesh's Parliament elected Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Secretary General of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), as the country's new president. The BNP, which holds a majority of seats in parliament, chose Alamgir over Oli Ahmed, a retired army officer-turned-politician from the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance.
Alamgir secured 255 votes, while Oli received 88 votes, making him the 23rd president of Bangladesh, a nation of 173 million people. This marks the first contested presidential election since the country became a parliamentary democracy in 1991. Former President Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned last month due to health concerns. Alamgir, 78, expressed his vision for a prosperous and welfare-oriented state during the vote, while his challenger, 87-year-old Oli, urged him to prioritize national interests over personal ones.
China congratulated Alamgir, expressing optimism for a shared future in the new era. The BNP's landslide victory in February's election, following ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ouster in 2024, solidified Alamgir's path to the presidency. Born in 1948, Alamgir entered politics while studying economics at Dhaka University and has been a vocal opposition leader during Hasina's 15-year rule, facing numerous politically motivated charges.
As president, he will serve as the head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, with his inauguration scheduled for Friday evening.
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- Bangladesh lawmakers set to elect Alamgir president dw.com
- Bangladesh’s Alamgir tipped to become new president freemalaysiatoday.com
