After a gap of 35 years, Bangladesh is once again holding a contested presidential election. Voting for the country’s 23rd president began at 2pm on Thursday (August 20) in the Jatiya Sangsad chamber and will continue until 5pm.

A total of 349 members of parliament are eligible to vote. Two candidates are contesting the election: BNP-nominated Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Oli Ahmed, the candidate of the 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami. With the BNP holding 247 seats in parliament, Mirza Fakhrul’s victory is considered almost certain based on the numerical strength. However, voting is being held as required by law because there are two candidates.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has cast his vote in the presidential election. BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Acting President and Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, and Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman have also exercised their voting rights.

The first presidential election by lawmakers after the parliamentary system was restored in 1991 was held that year. The next seven presidents were elected unopposed, eliminating the need for voting. This is the second time lawmakers are voting to elect a president.

Instructions for Members of Parliament

1. Entering the parliamentary chamber:
Lawmakers must enter the chamber between 2pm and 5pm on August 20, collect their ballots and cast their votes. Voting will continue uninterrupted during this period.

2. Carrying an ID card:
Members must carry the ID card issued by the Parliament Secretariat when entering the chamber.

3. Collecting the ballot:
After taking their seats, lawmakers must collect their ballot paper, bearing their name and division number, from an assisting official. They must write their full name in the designated space on the counterfoil or check stub and return it to the assisting official.

4. Voting for the preferred candidate:
Lawmakers must write their full name in the designated space opposite the name of their preferred candidate on the ballot paper.

5. Depositing the ballot:
After voting, the ballot paper must be placed in the designated ballot box inside the parliamentary chamber.

6. If a ballot is damaged:
If a ballot paper is damaged for any reason, it must be shown to the election officer before being placed in the ballot box. The election officer will then take the necessary steps.

7. Election campaigning prohibited:
No election campaign, speech or address will be allowed during the parliamentary meeting convened for the voting.

8. Seeking assistance from the chief whips:
If any immediate problem arises while voting, lawmakers must seek assistance from the chief whip and the opposition chief whip.

9. Full name must be written:
Where the ballot paper requires the voter’s full signature, the voter must write their full name.

Counting will begin immediately after voting ends at 5pm. Officials will first determine the number of voters who cast ballots, the number of valid and rejected ballots, and the number of unused ballots. The valid votes received by each candidate will then be counted.

The election officer will declare the candidate who secures the highest number of valid votes as the winner. The Election Commission will subsequently publish the result in an official gazette.

Earlier, 22nd President Md Sahabuddin resigned on July 24, citing illness. After the presidency fell vacant, the Election Commission announced the election schedule on August 6. BNP-nominated Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and 11-party alliance candidate Oli Ahmed submitted their nomination papers on August 13. Following scrutiny on August 16, the nominations of both candidates were declared valid.