Voting in Bangladesh’s presidential election began in the parliament at 2pm today (20 August), 35 years after the last contested polls.
Voting will end at 5pm after a total of 349 eligible MPs cast their ballots.
The CEC said the election result will be published in the official gazette today, hours after the balloting.
Two candidates are contesting the election: BNP’s Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and LDP Chairman Oli Ahmed, representing the opposition alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami.
With 247 MPs, the BNP has a clear majority in parliament, making Fakhrul’s election virtually certain. However, voting is required under the election schedule as there are two candidates.
The last parliamentary presidential election was held in 1991, after the parliamentary system of government was restored. The next seven presidents were elected unopposed. This is only the second time MPs are casting votes to elect a president.
The ballot is not secret. MPs will write the full name of their preferred candidate beside the candidate’s name on the ballot and sign it.
MPs will cast their votes from their respective seats. Acting President and Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and Acting Speaker Kaisar Kamal will also vote as MPs, with separate seating arrangements made for them.
The new president is scheduled to take the oath at Bangabhaban at 7pm tomorrow (21 August).
Fakhrul, being an MP, can vote in the election. His parliamentary seat will become vacant once he assumes office as president. Oli is not an MP and therefore cannot vote.
Mohammad Shahabuddin, who was elected president during the Awami League government, resigned from office on 24 July. Under the Constitution, a new president must be elected within 90 days of the post becoming vacant.
Infographic: TBS
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Infographic: TBS
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