BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been elected as the 23rd president of Bangladesh, defeating his lone rival, 11-party opposition alliance candidate Col (retd) Oli Ahmad, by a wide margin.

Fakhrul secured 255 votes, while Oli Ahmad received 88, according to BSS. Chief Election Commissioner and Returning Officer AMM Nasir Uddin announced the result after the ballot was held in the Jatiya Sangsad session chamber.

Of 349 registered lawmakers, 343 cast their ballots. Six MPs did not vote. The Election Commission is scheduled to publish the result in an official gazette.

Voting took place from 2pm to 5pm through an open ballot. Acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmad and Acting Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal were among the first to vote, followed by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Fakhrul.

The election was held after Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned as president on July 24, with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad assuming the role of acting president. Under Article 123(2) of the Constitution, a presidential election must be held within 90 days of a vacancy.

Fakhrul's election marks the country's first contested presidential election since 1991, when BNP's Abdur Rahman Biswas defeated Awami League candidate Badrul Haider Chowdhury.

The oath-taking ceremony for the newly elected president is expected to be held at Bangabhaban on Friday evening.

BOB Post