Members of Parliament will vote Thursday afternoon to elect the next president in a contest marked more by ceremony than suspense, with the outcome effectively settled.
BNP nominee Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s sole challenger is Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed, fielded by the Jamaat‑led opposition alliance. For the first time in 35 years, a new president will be chosen through a ballot.
The last presidential vote was held in 1991. The voting will be held from 2pm to 5pm in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
With BNP holding more than a two‑thirds majority in parliament, Fakhrul, the party’s recently resigned secretary general, is virtually assured of becoming the new resident of Bangabhaban.
Still, constitutional provisions require a vote since more than one candidate is in the race. Chief Election Commissioner and “election officer” AMM Nasir Uddin said the Election Commission has completed all preparations to ensure a fair and orderly poll despite institutional gaps after nearly three decades without a vote.
He added that the winner’s name will be announced on Thursday after balloting and counting. Parliament’s Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni said the new president will be sworn in at Bangabhaban around 7pm on Friday.
All 349 members of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad are eligible to vote, including 50 MPs from reserved women’s seats.
However, the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division cancelled the candidacy and oath‑taking of BNP’s Aslam Chowdhury, elected from Chattogram‑4 in February, leaving that seat vacant.
Ahead of the election, the opposition will hold a meeting around 11am in the opposition chamber to brief its 90 MPs on voting procedures.
The presidency fell vacant on 24 July when the 22nd president, Mohammad Shahabuddin, resigned citing illness. The Election Commission announced the schedule on 6 August.
On 13 August, BNP’s Fakhrul and the alliance’s Oli Ahmad submitted nomination papers, both of which were declared valid on 16 August.
