Bangladesh’s parliament on Thursday elected Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, a senior leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), as the country’s new president.
A.M.M. Nasiruddin, the chief election commissioner, said Alamgir won with 255 votes in favor against 88 votes opposing his election.
The 78-year-old Alamgir will serve as head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The presidency in Bangladesh is largely considered a ceremonial position.
In the parliamentary election, Alamgir defeated Oli Ahmed, a retired army colonel and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, who was the candidate of an 11-party opposition alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its allies hold a two-thirds majority in parliament following their victory in the February 12 general election, while Tarique Rahman has begun his tenure as prime minister.
Former President Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned last month after completing his five-year term, citing health problems. He was a former politician with the Awami League and a close associate of Sheikh Hasina.
Sheikh Hasina left Bangladesh following the collapse of her government amid widespread public protests in August 2024 and has been residing in India ever since.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
