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Election result gazetted

The Election Commission Secretariat has published the gazette declaring BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir the winner of Bangladesh’s 23rd presidential election.

"The gazette has been published. The Cabinet Division will now take the steps to arrange the swearing-in ceremony," EC Secretary Akhter Ahmed said.

The acting speaker will administer Fakhrul’s oath at Bangabhaban on Friday evening.

Tarique presents Fakhrul with red rose

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has congratulated newly elected president Mirza Fakhrul by presenting him with a red rose.

The gesture came after Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin announced Fakhrul’s victory with 255 votes against Oli Ahmed’s 88.

6 MPs absent from presidential vote

Six of the 349 eligible MPs were absent from Thursday’s presidential election.

Mirza Abbas and Mostafa Kamal Pasha had informed the acting speaker that they could not attend because of illness. 

Osman Faruk, Gazi Nazrul Islam, Rumeen Farhana and Mohammed Abul Hasan were also absent.

China congratulates Fakhrul

The Chinese Embassy in Dhaka has congratulated Fakhrul on his election as president.

It posted the message on Facebook minutes after the result was announced.

Rizvi takes charge as BNP acting secretary general

BNP has appointed Standing Committee Member Ruhul Kabir Rizvi as acting secretary general after Fakhrul was elected as president.

Rizvi, who joined the Standing Committee just five days ago, takes charge with immediate effect under the party constitution.

Fakhrul becomes president

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been elected Bangladesh’s 23rd president, securing 255 votes. 

Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance candidate Oli Ahmed received 88 votes.

Fakhrul will succeed Mohammed Shahabuddin and move into Bangabhaban after more than three decades of one-candidate presidential contests.

Acting Speaker Kayser Kamal will administer the oath to Fakhrul at Bangabhaban at 7:30pm on Friday.

Voting ends, counting begins

Voting in the presidential election has ended and the counting of ballots is set to begin.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, who is serving as the electoral officer, thanked MPs for their cooperation before announcing the start of the count.

The result will be announced as soon as the counting is complete, he said.

PM spends more than an hour in chamber

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman remained in the parliament chamber for more than an hour after voting began in the presidential election.

BNP presidential candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir sat beside him, followed by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and veteran MP Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.

At one point, MPs gathered around the prime minister’s seat as he chatted with them and exchanged greetings.

Tarique left the chamber at 3:13pm for his office in the parliament building, accompanied by Mirza Fakhrul.

Acting speaker to administer president's oath

Acting Speaker Kayser Kamal is set to administer the oath to the next president after the election, according to a legal opinion given by the law ministry.

The Cabinet Division had been unsure whether acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmad or Acting Speaker Kayser should conduct the swearing-in.

The ministry has advised that Kayser is the appropriate person under the Constitution to administer the oath.

Law Ministry Joint Secretary (Opinion) MA Awal told bdnews24.com on Thursday that there would be no legal issue if the acting speaker administered the oath.

President-elect to take oath Friday

PM Tarique Rahman cast his ballot alongside BNP presidential candidate Mirza Fakhrul.

Fakhrul then went over to Opposition lawmakers to exchange greetings after casting his own vote.

Abdul Awal Mintoo and Gayeshwar Chandra Roy voted next, followed by other lawmakers.

Opposition MPs are scheduled to cast their ballots later.

Tarique votes with Fakhrul

Voting has formally begun in Bangladesh’s presidential election.

Acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmad is the first MP to cast his ballot in the parliament chamber.

Voting under way

As MPs gear up to cast their ballots in the parliament chamber, here are the key rules:

• Voting will continue uninterrupted for three hours.
• MPs must carry ID cards issued by the parliament secretariat to enter the chamber.
• Each MP will receive a ballot printed with their name and constituency number.
• MPs must write their full name on the ballot counterfoil and return it to an election official.
• They must then write their full name beside their preferred candidate on the ballot.
• The completed ballot must be placed in the ballot box inside the chamber.
• Spoiled ballots must be presented to the electoral officer before being placed in the box.
• No campaigning, speeches or statements in support of a candidate will be allowed during the sitting.
• MPs facing problems while voting have been advised to approach the chief whip or opposition chief whip.

The result will be announced in the chamber immediately after voting ends, followed by a gazette notification.

A total of 349 MPs are eligible to vote — 299 from general seats and 50 from reserved women’s seats.

The names of the two candidates will appear on the ballot in alphabetical order based on their Bangla initials.

How the vote works

Election officials have arrived at the Parliament complex with ballot papers and other materials as preparations gather pace for Bangladesh’s presidential election.

A 20-member Election Commission team reached the parliament complex around noon on Thursday.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin is serving as the electoral officer for the presidential vote. He is being assisted by the EC secretary and 20 officials from the commission secretariat, while the parliament secretariat will also provide logistical support.

Election officials arrive in Parliament

Formalities for the presidential election are under way, though the result has been known for a week.

•    Mirza Fakhrul, nominated by the ruling BNP, which holds a one-third majority in parliament, is certain to become the president, since lawmakers have no scope to vote outside their party line.

•    Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin is serving as the returning officer for the election.

•    A total of 349 lawmakers are casting votes, including the acting president, acting speaker, prime minister and the leader of the Opposition.

•    Of these, the BNP holds 247 seats including reserved seats, and Jamaat-e-Islami 77. The remaining seats include eight independents, eight from the National Citizen Party (NCP), three from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, one from Islami Andolan Bangladesh, one from the Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), one from Ganosamhati Andolan, one from Gono Odhikar Parishad, one from Khelafat Majlis and one from Jatiya Ganotantrik Party (JAGPA).

•    Since the return of the parliamentary system, only the 1991 election saw voting take place, when both BNP and Awami League fielded candidates. In the seven elections since, a single candidate meant lawmakers were elected unopposed each time. With two candidates in the fray this time, a vote is being held to fulfil the legal requirement.

In brief

MPs are set to vote in the presidential election, more than three decades after the last multi-candidate race. 

Voting will take place in the parliament chamber from 2pm to 5pm on Thursday.

This is the first presidential election with more than one candidate since 1991, making a ballot mandatory under the Presidential Election Act. 

In the seven elections since then, single candidates were elected unopposed.

BNP nominee Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is certain to become Bangladesh's 23rd president, as MPs cannot vote against their party's decision.

Welcome to the live blog

MPs are set to vote in the presidential election, more than three decades after the last multi-candidate race. 

Voting will take place in the parliament chamber from 2pm to 5pm on Thursday.

This is the first presidential election with more than one candidate since 1991, making a ballot mandatory under the Presidential Election Act. 

In the seven elections since then, single candidates were elected unopposed.

BNP nominee Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is certain to become Bangladesh's 23rd president, as MPs cannot vote against their party's decision.