Bangladesh's parliament is scheduled to vote for a new president on Thursday, with Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expected to win.
Key facts
- •The election is scheduled for Thursday at 2 p.m. local time (0800 UTC).
- •Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is the candidate for the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
- •The BNP secured a landslide victory in the first election following the 2024 ouster of Sheikh Hasina.
- •Former president Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned in July due to health concerns.
- •The presidency in Bangladesh is a largely ceremonial office.
Bangladesh's parliament is set to elect a new president on Thursday, with Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) widely expected to secure the position. Lawmakers are scheduled to cast their votes at 2 p.m. local time.
By the numbers
Political Context of the Election
The BNP currently holds a two-thirds majority in parliament, which makes the election of opposition candidate Oli Ahmed, a retired army officer representing the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance, unlikely. The presidency is a largely ceremonial role. This election follows the resignation of former president Mohammed Shahabuddin in July, who stepped down citing health concerns after serving as an ally to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Background of the Candidate
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, 78, is credited with maintaining the BNP's organization and political presence during the tenure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. During that period, Alamgir faced dozens of charges and was repeatedly arrested, which he characterized as politically motivated. Following his nomination, Alamgir stated he intends to continue serving the public after assuming the presidency.
Timeline
- 2024Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power.
- JulyFormer president Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned from office.
- TuesdayMirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir spoke to reporters regarding his nomination.
- ThursdayLawmakers are set to vote for the new president.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Deutsche Welle.
