Mirza Fakhrul Elected Bangladesh President

Dhaka, August 20, 2026 – Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been elected the country’s 23rd president, winning the first contested presidential election in nearly 35 years.

Fakhrul secured 255 votes in Thursday’s parliamentary election, defeating opposition candidate Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed, who received 88 votes. Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin announced the result after voting concluded at the Jatiya Sangsad.

Mirza Fakhrul President After Historic Vote

The Mirza Fakhrul President election took place at the Jatiya Sangsad, where 349 lawmakers were eligible to vote. Voting began at around 2:10 pm and continued until 5 pm.

Fakhrul contested the election as the nominee of the ruling BNP, while Oli Ahmed represented the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party opposition alliance.

The election became notable because Bangladesh had not witnessed a contested presidential election for nearly three and a half decades.

Fakhrul Resigned From BNP Posts

Fakhrul’s presidential nomination came after BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman selected him as the party’s candidate earlier this month.

Following the nomination, Fakhrul resigned as BNP secretary general and stepped down from the party’s National Standing Committee.

His resignation cleared the way for him to contest the presidential election without holding his previous party positions.

Before becoming president-elect, Fakhrul served as BNP secretary general and Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister.

Oath Ceremony Set for Friday

Fakhrul is scheduled to take the presidential oath at Bangabhaban on Friday evening, August 21.

According to the announced schedule, the oath-taking ceremony is expected to begin at 7:30 pm.

He will formally assume the responsibilities of head of state after taking the oath.

A Major Political Transition

Fakhrul’s election marks a significant change in Bangladesh’s political landscape. He has spent decades in active politics and served as one of BNP’s most prominent leaders.

His transition from a leading opposition figure to the country’s head of state comes after BNP’s return to power following the February 2026 parliamentary election.

The presidential election also followed the resignation of former President Mohammed Shahabuddin, who stepped down on July 24 citing health reasons. Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad had served as acting president during the vacancy.

What Happens Next?

After taking office, Fakhrul will become Bangladesh’s constitutional head of state while the elected government continues to run the executive branch.

His election is also expected to attract attention because of his long political career within BNP and his previous role as the party’s secretary general.

The new president now faces the task of representing the state while maintaining the constitutional responsibilities of the presidency.

For Bangladesh, the election marks a new chapter at Bangabhaban and concludes a closely watched political process that began after the previous president’s resignation.