BNP veteran Alamgir elected Bangladesh president

Bangladesh’s parliament has elected veteran Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as the country’s new president, marking another major development in the country’s political transition.

The 78-year-old politician secured victory in a parliamentary vote on Thursday, defeating retired army Colonel Oli Ahmed, who was backed by the Jamaat-e-Islami-led opposition alliance.

Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin announced Alamgir as the winner after he received 255 votes against Ahmed’s 88.

Alamgir is expected to take the oath of office on Friday evening.

Although the presidency in Bangladesh is largely ceremonial, the president serves as the country’s head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Executive powers remain with the prime minister and cabinet.

Alamgir’s election comes after the BNP returned to power following the February general election. The party and its allies secured a two-thirds majority in parliament, while BNP leader Tarique Rahman became prime minister.

The presidential election was triggered by the resignation of Mohammed Shahabuddin, who stepped down last month citing health reasons before completing his five-year term.

Shahabuddin, a former Awami League politician and close associate of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, had become president in 2023.

Hasina left Bangladesh and moved to India after a mass uprising removed her government from power in August 2024. She has previously indicated that she plans to return to Bangladesh later this year.

Alamgir is one of the BNP’s longest-serving senior figures. He served as the party’s secretary-general from 2016 until being nominated for the presidency.

During the Awami League government’s rule, Alamgir emerged as one of the BNP’s most prominent opposition leaders. He faced several arrests and legal cases during his political career.

His political journey began after he completed his studies in economics at the University of Dhaka. He initially worked as a teacher before entering politics.

Alamgir joined the BNP in the early 1990s and gradually rose through its ranks. He later held several senior government positions and served as local government minister before leaving the position following his nomination for president.

His election now places a longtime opposition figure in Bangladesh’s highest constitutional office as the BNP consolidates its political position following its return to government.