Bangladesh gets 23rd president

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been elected the 23rd president of Bangladesh, securing 255 votes in the election today (Thursday). His only rival Oli Ahmed, the candidate backed by the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance, received 88 votes.

Before taking on this new assignment, Mirza Fakhrul was the secretary general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP and also local government, rural development and cooperatives minister of the Tarique Rahman-led new govrnment.

On his election, Mirza Fakhrul now succeeds Mohammed Shahabuddin and moves 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.

Members of parliament cast their votes from 2pm to 5pm on Thursday, marking the first presidential election with multiple candidates since 1991.

The contest was required under the law because more than one candidate remained in the race.