Bangladesh’s Alamgir tipped to become new president

Dhaka, Bangladesh is set to elect its new president on Thursday, with the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party's Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir favored to win the largely ceremonial five-year post. The 78-year-old, who is also the party's secretary general and a local government minister, is expected to secure a landslide victory.

Alamgir told reporters, "I never thought that I would become the president -- it is the infinite grace of the party and almighty Allah." He added, "Even after becoming president, I wish to remain beside the people and serve them."

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's BNP won a significant victory in February elections following Sheikh Hasina's removal in 2024. The vote comes after the resignation of the previous president, Mohammed Shahabuddin, who stepped down in July due to health issues. Shahabuddin, a close ally of Hasina, had faced pressure to quit ahead of the 2028 term end.

Hasina currently remains in hiding in India, refusing to attend her trial in Dhaka where she was found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death. Critics have long accused Hasina's government of abuses, including murder, suppression of opposition, rigged courts, and one-sided elections.

Alamgir, a key student leader during Bangladesh's independence struggle in 1971, has held various government positions and faced numerous politically motivated arrests under Hasina's rule. He is married to Rahat Ara Begum, and they have two daughters. Voting is slated to begin around 2pm with Oli Ahmed, nominated by the 11-party opposition alliance, as his only opponent.