Vote counting in the presidential election has started as the balloting ended at 5:00pm, with members of Parliament (MPs) casting their votes through an open ballot to elect the country’s 23rd President.
Voting was held from 2:10pm to 5:00pm in the session chamber of the Jatiya Sangsad.
BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and opposition Jamaat-led 11-party alliance contender Col (retd) Oli Ahmad are contesting the election.
At the beginning of the balloting, Acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmad and Acting Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal cast their votes at 2:10 pm, while Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at 2:11pm.
Just before the balloting, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, who is also the election returning officer, announced the names of the two candidates for president.
He explained the voting procedure for Members of Parliament.
He also explained how the ballot papers should be placed in the ballot box.
With BNP holding an absolute majority in Parliament, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is widely expected to be elected as the country’s 23rd President.
Under Article 70 of the Constitution, lawmakers, elected as candidates of political parties, will lose their seats if they vote for any candidate in this presidential election, going against their respective party’s decision.
The last contested presidential election was held on October 8, 1991, when BNP candidate Abdur Rahman Biswas defeated Awami League candidate Badrul Haider Chowdhury to become the country’s 11th President.
Abdur Rahman Biswas secured 172 votes, while Badrul Haider Chowdhury received 92.
Since then, no voting was required in the successive presidential elections as a single candidate was elected uncontested in each election.
CEC Nasir Uddin will announce the election result immediately after the vote count in Parliament.
Then the Election Commission will publish the election result in an official gazette on Thursday.
On the other hand, Bangabhaban is making preparations to arrange the oath-taking ceremony for the newly elected President on Friday evening.
Since the Chattogram-4 parliamentary seat remains vacant, the number of voters is 349.
The voters include 247 BNP lawmakers, 77 Jamaat MPs, eight NCP lawmakers, eight independent MPs, three Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis MPs, and one each from Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Ganosamhati Andolon, Khilafat Majlis, Islami Andolan Bangladesh and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party.
BJP, Gono Odhikar Parishad and Ganosamhati Andolon are allies of the ruling BNP. The ruling camp has 250 lawmakers who are expected to vote for Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in this presidential election.
On the other hand, Jamaat, NCP, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, Khilafat Majlis and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party are components of the 11-party opposition alliance. The opposition camp has 90 lawmakers in Parliament, who are expected to vote for Oli Ahmad.
On July 24 last, Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned as President and Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad took charge as the acting President.
According to Article 123(2) of the Constitution, an election to fill the vacant office of the President must be held within 90 days of the post becoming vacant due to resignation.