Bangladesh’s parliament is scheduled to elect a new president this Thursday, with Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) widely anticipated to secure the position.
Given that the BNP maintains a two-thirds majority in parliament, it is highly improbable that the opposition candidate, retired army officer Oli Ahmed from the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance, will win the vote.
The parliamentary vote is scheduled to take place at 2 p.m. local time (0800 UTC).
This election follows the July resignation of former president Mohammed Shahabuddin, a prominent ally of the deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who stepped down citing health issues.
Who is Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir?
The election follows a decisive victory for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s BNP in February, marking the first major electoral win since Sheikh Hasina’s removal from power in 2024.
The BNP is expected to leverage its parliamentary majority to appoint the 78-year-old Alamgir to the largely ceremonial role of president.
“I never imagined I would become president; it is due to the immense grace of the party and Almighty Allah,” Alamgir told reporters on Tuesday, according to state news agency BSS.
“Even as president, I intend to stay close to the people and continue my service to them.”
During the previous administration under Hasina, Alamgir faced numerous arrests and dozens of charges, which he maintained were politically motivated.
He has been recognized in various media reports for his role in maintaining the BNP’s organizational structure and political presence during the challenging period of Hasina’s rule.