Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir Elected 23rd President of Bangladesh

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been elected as the 23rd President of Bangladesh following a competitive parliamentary election held on Thursday. Alamgir, the candidate nominated by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), secured 255 votes to defeat his opponent, Colonel (Retd.) Oli Ahmed, who was supported by an 11-party coalition and received 88 votes.

The election marks a significant development in the country’s constitutional history, representing the first contested presidential race since 1991. Previous elections in the intervening decades were decided without opposition. The swearing-in ceremony for the new president is scheduled to take place at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban on Friday evening at 7:30 p.m.

Voting took place in the National Parliament on Thursday, beginning at 2:10 p.m. and concluding at 5:00 p.m. Out of 349 eligible members of parliament, 343 cast their ballots using traditional paper ballots. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin announced the official results at 5:20 p.m.

Following the announcement, Alamgir received widespread congratulations from both domestic and international figures. Among those offering well-wishes was prominent musician Monir Khan, who shared a photograph with the president-elect on social media. Khan expressed his formal congratulations, offering prayers for Alamgir’s continued health and longevity as he prepares to assume office.