Bangladesh picks a 'Mirza' for its president post

Bangladesh has elected its 23rd President, former Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Alamgir secured the presidency by garnering 255 votes in the presidential election held at the Jatiya Sangsad, the country's Parliament. He defeated Oli Ahmed, the candidate backed by an 11-party opposition alliance. The election, the first contested presidential poll in Bangladesh since 1991, marked a departure from decades of largely consensus-based and uncontested elections.

Alamgir, born on January 26, 1948, began his political career as a student of economics at Dhaka University. He was actively involved in the 1969 student uprising against Pakistan's military rule, a pivotal moment in Bangladesh's journey to independence. After teaching economics and serving in government, Alamgir entered electoral politics.

He held ministerial positions, including agriculture, aviation, and tourism, before emerging as a prominent opposition leader during Sheikh Hasina's rule. Despite facing arrest and numerous politically motivated cases, Alamgir remained a dedicated party organiser, keeping the BNP active during years of political pressure. He is married to Rahat Ara Begum, and they have two daughters.