BNP's Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir elected Bangladesh President in first contested poll in 35 years
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was elected Bangladesh's President after defeating Oli Ahmed 255-88 in the country's first contested presidential poll since 1991. The BNP leader will take oath on Friday as the 23rd President.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, a senior figure in the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and former secretary general, emerged victorious in Bangladesh's first contested presidential election in 35 years. The 78-year-old politician, a close associate of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, defeated his sole opponent, Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed, of the opposition alliance led by the Jamaat-e-Islami.
With 255 votes, Alamgir secured 255 votes, surpassing Oli Ahmed's 88 votes from the 343 total votes cast among 349 registered voters. The former BNP leader will assume office as the country's 23rd President on Friday evening, following a constitutionally mandated oath ceremony at Bangabhaban. This election, which took place after the resignation of President Mohammed Shahabuddin due to health issues, marked a significant shift in the political landscape, as the presidency had largely been an uncontested position in recent years.
The BNP, which recently won the February 12 parliamentary elections, currently holds a two-thirds majority in Parliament, giving Alamgir a strong mandate for his new role.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times - World News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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