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Bangladesh elects BNP's Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as president in first contested vote since 1991
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On August 20, veteran Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was elected Bangladesh's new president in the country's first contested presidential election since 1991. Alamgir received 255 votes in Parliament, defeating Liberal Democratic Party chairman Oli Ahmad, who won 88 votes with backing from an 11-party opposition alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami. The election followed the resignation of former President Mohammed Shahabuddin on July 24, citing health problems amid political pressure after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government in August 2024. The vote reopened debate over Article 70 of the Constitution, which can cost parliamentarians their seats if they vote against their party. A Supreme Court lawyer challenged the provision, but the High Court rejected the petition on August 18. Alamgir, who served as BNP secretary-general since 2016, becomes president six months after the BNP returned to power. Bangladesh's presidency is largely ceremonial but the president remains constitutional head of state and commander-in-chief.
Source report
Bangladesh held its first contested presidential election since 1991 on August 20, electing veteran Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as the country's new head of state.
Election Results
Alamgir, 78, secured 255 votes in Parliament, defeating his rival Oli Ahmad, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party, who received 88 votes. Ahmad was backed by an 11-party opposition alliance led by the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).
The election marked a significant shift from recent decades, during which presidential candidates had been elected unopposed with no rival entering the race.
Background
The vote came less than a month after former President Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned on July 24. Shahabuddin cited serious health problems, though his departure also followed sustained political pressure.
Shahabuddin was elected in 2023 with the backing of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League. After Hasina's government fell in August 2024, several political groups and student leaders called for his resignation. Shahabuddin denied that he had stepped down under pressure.
Constitutional Debate
The presidential election reopened debate over Article 70 of the Constitution, which states that parliamentarians can lose their seats if they vote against their party.
Key developments in the debate:
- JI leaders argued that the provision prevented MPs from voting freely and called for its reform before the election
- A Supreme Court lawyer challenged the provision and asked the High Court to suspend the presidential election, arguing that MPs should be able to vote independently
- The High Court rejected the petition on August 18, clearing the way for the election
About the New President
Alamgir has served as BNP secretary-general since 2016. He became one of the party's most recognizable faces during its long years in opposition under Hasina. His election comes six months after the BNP returned to power in the February general election, with Tarique Rahman becoming prime minister.
Role of the Presidency
Bangladesh's presidency is largely ceremonial. However, the president remains the constitutional head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
Source
The DiplomatRegional
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Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir Elected Bangladesh President in First Contested Poll Since 1991