‘I will miss many things’ says Mirza Fakhrul Ahead of Presidential Vote

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has outlined his vision for a "happy and prosperous" Bangladesh as the BNP veteran prepares for a presidential election he is widely expected to win.

Speaking to bdnews24.com by phone Thursday, hours before MPs were due to vote in the country's 23rd presidential election, Fakhrul reflected emotionally on the road ahead. "I will miss many things. When I think about them, I find it difficult to contain my emotions" he said also praying that everyone remains safe and supports building a welfare-oriented state.

He said he hoped to see marginalised people and daily wage earners afford two full meals a day and live with dignity alongside job creation for the country's youth and expanded economic opportunities for women. He said he believed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's leadership could help deliver this vision and thanked the public, media, and various professionals reserving special gratitude for Tarique.

Fakhrul also grew emotional recalling former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, saying "On this day, the person I remember most the person my heart aches for is Begum Khaleda Zia."

Fakhrul rose through left-leaning student politics before joining BNP via Bhasani NAP. He was elected MP for Thakurgaon-1 in 2001, later serving as state minister for agriculture and for civil aviation and tourism under Khaleda Zia. Most recently he served as local government minister and MP for Thakurgaon-1 before resigning to contest the presidency.

Voting begins at 2pm Thursday in parliament and runs until 5pm overseen by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin with 249 MPs eligible to vote. Fakhrul faces Oli Ahmad of the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance but with BNP's two-thirds majority and Article 70 barring cross-party voting Mirza Fakhrul is heavily favoured to win. If elected his parliamentary seat will fall vacant.