Bangladesh will hold a rare contested presidential election on Thursday afternoon with voting from 2pm to 5pm, Jatiya Sangsad Chief Whip Md. Nurul Islam Moni announced Wednesday. The newly elected president will be sworn in at Bangabhaban on Friday at 7:30pm.
Speaking after a BNP Parliamentary Party meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, Moni said this is the first vote for president in 35 years. The Election Commission and Parliament will broadcast the process live for five minutes before voting starts and resume live coverage before results are announced. Footage will include the President, Speaker, Prime Minister, Opposition Leader and BNP's candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir casting their votes.
Moni credited BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman's 17-year movement for the party's return to power through democratic elections also saying the goal now is to institutionalize democracy through inclusive cooperation between government and opposition.
Two candidates are contesting Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir backed by BNP and allies and retired Colonel Oli Ahmed, nominated by an 11-party alliance including Jamaat-e-Islami. A total of 349 MPs are eligible to vote.
The last contested presidential election was in 1991 when BNP's Abdur Rahman Biswas defeated Awami League's Badrul Haider Chowdhury 172–92 votes.
Senior BNP leaders including several whips and lawmakers, attended Wednesday's briefing alongside candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
