Bangladesh's Alamgir tipped to become new president in first contested vote since 1991

Bangladesh's parliament is set to elect the country's new president on Thursday, with the ruling party's Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expected to take the largely ceremonial position.

Alamgir, 78, is contesting against opposition candidate Oli Ahmed. The vote follows former president Mohammed Shahabuddin's resignation in July.

Who is expected to become Bangladesh's next president?

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and local government minister, is expected to sweep Thursday's vote. He would become the 23rd president of the country of 170 million people, serving a five-year term. Alamgir faces one other candidate, Oli Ahmed, nominated by the opposition 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami.

"I never thought that I would become the president, it is the infinite grace of the party and almighty Allah," Alamgir told reporters on Tuesday, according to state news agency BSS. "Even after becoming president, I wish to remain beside the people and serve them." Voting is expected to begin around 2:00 pm (0800 GMT).

Why is Bangladesh electing a new president now?

The vote follows the resignation in July of the previous president, Mohammed Shahabuddin, 76, a close ally of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina who had faced pressure to quit. Widely known as "Chuppu", he was elected in 2023 and stepped down citing ill health, cutting his term short ahead of its 2028 end.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's BNP won a landslide victory in February, in the first elections since the 2024 revolution ousted Hasina's government. Hasina remains in hiding in India, having refused to attend her trial in Dhaka, where in November she was found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to be hanged. Rights groups had long accused Hasina's administration of abuses including the murder of rivals, suppression of opposition parties, rigged courts and one-sided elections.

Who is Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir?

Born on January 26, 1948, Alamgir entered politics while studying economics at Dhaka University. He was a key student leader in the 1969 uprising opposing military rule by Pakistan, a stepping stone towards Bangladesh's eventual independence in 1971. After teaching economics, he entered government service, then politics, holding posts including minister of agriculture, aviation and tourism.

He rose to prominence as an opposition leader during Hasina's rule, while BNP head Khaleda Zia was in prison and her son Rahman was in exile. Alamgir was himself repeatedly arrested under Hasina's government, facing dozens of charges he said were politically motivated. BSS said he had been praised for keeping the BNP organized and maintaining the party's political presence during difficult times.

Alamgir is married to Rahat Ara Begum, a retired financial official. They have two daughters.