Voting begins to elect BD's 23rd president

The voting began at 2:00 pm and will continue till 5:00 pm without any break.

At the beginning of the balloting, the Acting President, the Speaker, the Prime Minister, and presidential candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir cast their votes.

Acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmad and Acting Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal cast vote at 2:10 pm, while Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at 2:11pm.

Before the balloting CEC AMM Nasir Uddin briefed the lawmakers about the voting procedure.

Voting is taking place for the presidential election for the first time in 35 years as more than one candidate is contesting the post.

BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and opposition Jamaat-led 11-party alliance contender Col (retd) Oli Ahmad are the candidates.

With BNP holding an absolute majority in the Parliament, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is widely expected to be elected as the country’s 23rd President.

Under Article 70 of the Constitution, the lawmakers will lose their seats if they vote for any candidate going against their respective party decision.

The last contested presidential election was held on October 8, 1991, when BNP candidate Abdur Rahman Biswas defeating Awami League backed candidate Justice Badrul Haider Chowdhury to become the country’s 11th President.

Abdur Rahman Biswas secured 172 votes, while Badrul Haider Chowdhury received 92.

Since then, no voting was required in the successive presidential elections as a single candidate was elected uncontested in each election.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, who is the election officer for the polls, is conducting the balloting and will announce the election result immediately after the vote count in the Parliament.

Then the Election Commission will publish the election result in an official gazette today, reports BSS.