Dhaka, Aug 20 (V7N)- BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been elected as the 23rd President of Bangladesh, securing 255 votes in the country’s first contested presidential election in 35 years.
His rival, Col. (retd.) Oli Ahmed, the candidate of the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance, received 88 votes.
A total of 349 lawmakers were eligible to vote. Of the ballots cast, 343 were valid, while six ballots were unused.
The votes were counted publicly in the session room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Thursday (August 20), following the conclusion of voting. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Officer AMM Nasir Uddin announced the final results after the counting.
Following the announcement, BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman congratulated Mirza Fakhrul with red roses. Lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition benches also congratulated the newly elected president.
The election marked a historic return to a contested presidential vote after 35 years. Although the election was contested, Mirza Fakhrul had been widely expected to win because the BNP holds a two-thirds majority in parliament.
The BNP officially announced Mirza Fakhrul as its presidential candidate on August 13. He subsequently stepped down from his position as the party’s secretary general.
On Wednesday night, Mirza Fakhrul wrote an emotional farewell message on Facebook, announcing his departure from active party politics.
Earlier, during a BNP parliamentary party meeting, he became emotional several times while delivering his farewell speech. He sought prayers from party leaders and activists and urged them to support his candidacy in the presidential election.
The Election Commission is scheduled to publish the gazette announcing the election results on Thursday.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is scheduled to take the oath of office as the country’s 23rd president at Bangabhaban on Friday (August 21).
END/SMA/AJ
