Bangladesh Parliament elects Mirza Fakhrul Islam as new president

New Delhi, August 20 (KUNA) – Bangladesh’s parliament elected today, Thursday, Mirza Fakhrul Islam, a leader of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), as the country’s new president. The Election Commission announced Fakhrul Islam’s (78) victory after he secured 255 votes in the ballot held at Jatiya Sangsad (Bangladesh Parliament) in the first competitive presidential election in 35 years. Fakhrul Islam defeated his rival, former army officer Oli Ahmed, who received 88 votes. Ahmed was backed by an opposition coalition of 11 parties led by the Jamaat-e-Islami party and the Jatiya Nari party, which is the country’s first major political party led by a student movement. A total of 343 Members of Parliament participated in the voting under the supervision of Chief Election Commissioner A S M Nasiruddin. This marks the first election in 35 years in which more than one candidate competed for the presidency in Bangladesh, as opposition parties had not fielded candidates in previous polls, leaving only a single candidate on the ballot. Fakhrul Islam’s election followed the BNP’s nomination of him for the presidential race last week. The election came after the resignation of former President Mohammed Shahabuddin, who had been elected in 2023 as a candidate of the Awami League, the party led by ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Shahabuddin resigned midway through his five-year term for health reasons, before completing his full term. His presidency witnessed major events, including the ouster of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, the assumption of power by an interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus, and the return of the BNP to power in February. (End) A T K / T M A