Bangladesh holds presidential election in first contested vote in 35 years | Elections News
Dhaka, Bangladesh — Bangladesh is holding its first contested presidential election in 35 years, with Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) facing off against retired Colonel Oli Ahmad, the nominee of an 11-party opposition alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami.
The electoral process will involve 349 members of parliament, who are eligible to cast their votes between 08:00 GMT and 11:00 GMT on Thursday. Results are expected to be announced within hours, as confirmed by Bangladesh’s Election Commission.
This election follows the resignation last month of Mohammed Shahabuddin, who was elected unopposed in 2023 as the candidate of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League (AL) party. Shahabuddin stepped down mid-term, having served during a politically turbulent period that included Hasina’s removal in August 2024, the establishment of a Muhammad Yunus-led interim administration, and the BNP’s return to power in February.
Thursday’s vote is significant as it marks the first contested presidential election since October 1991, when BNP candidate Abdur Rahman Biswas narrowly defeated AL nominee Badrul Haider Chowdhury by 172 votes to 92. Since then, all presidential elections have been uncontested.
Despite the historic nature of the election, the outcome is widely anticipated to favor Alamgir. Of the 349 lawmakers, 247 are from the BNP and 90 belong to Ahmad’s opposition alliance, providing Alamgir a substantial advantage.
The election holds symbolic importance, reflecting the country’s attempts to reshape its political landscape following a 2024 uprising that ended Hasina’s 15-year rule.
Candidates Overview
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, 78, is a prominent leader of the BNP. Serving as acting secretary-general since 2011 and officially appointed in 2016, he has become a key figure for the party during its extended opposition period under Hasina. Post-elections this year, Alamgir was appointed Minister for Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives.
At a BNP parliamentary meeting on Wednesday, he expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for his nomination and committed to upholding Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty.
His opponent, retired Colonel Oli Ahmad, 85, is a decorated veteran of the 1971 Liberation War and has previously served as communication minister. After leaving the army in 1979, he joined the BNP and went on to found the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in 2006.
Ahmad’s nomination is notable due to his backing from Jamaat, a party that historically opposed Bangladesh’s independence. Despite lower chances of success, the opposition alliance has endorsed Ahmad as an experienced candidate, marking the presidency as a contested position rather than remaining unchallenged.
Public opinions are divided regarding the candidates’ political records. Anwarul Islam, a former official at Bangladesh Bank, praises Alamgir for his integrity, while Abdul Baten, a construction site manager in Dhaka, expresses a preference for Ahmad, citing his experience in politics.
Election Implications
Under Bangladesh’s constitution, the president serves as the head of state but holds limited independent authority. Article 48(3) mandates that the president acts on the prime minister’s advice, with exceptions in appointing the prime minister and the chief justice.
Ali Riaz, a political scientist, acknowledges the significance of having a contested election but warns against overstating its practical implications. He noted the July National Charter, ratified after the 2024 uprising, proposed reforms that would change how the president is elected but have yet to be fully implemented.
Concerns remain about the electoral process, especially for families of the more than 1,400 individuals killed by security forces during the 2024 uprising. Sanjida Khan Deepti, whose son was among those killed, emphasized the timeliness of the election but questioned whether MPs should be allowed to vote independently of their party’s directives.
The election has reignited discussions around Article 70 of the constitution, which penalizes lawmakers for voting against their party.
Despite its limitations, Thursday’s election presents a rare opportunity for lawmakers to choose between multiple candidates for the presidency, a first in over three decades.
