United News of Bangladesh

Members of Parliament from the ruling BNP on Wednesday sat for a meeting ahead of Thursday’s presidential election. The meeting of the BNP parliamentary party began at 4pm on the ninth floor of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman in the chair, said Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony.  Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, LGRD Minister and the ruling party’s candidate for the presidency, was also present at the meeting. Voting to elect Bangladesh’s 23rd President will be held in the Parliament Chamber on Thursday from 2pm to 5pm. A presidential election featuring more than one candidate is being held for the first time in 35 years. Mirza Fakhrul, nominated by the BNP and like-minded parties, is contesting the election against retired Colonel Oli Ahmed, the candidate of 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami. A total of 349 Members of Parliament are eligible to vote in the election. The last presidential election involving a vote in Parliament was held on October 8, 1991. 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.

Thakurgaon has erupted in celebration following the nomination of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as the party’s candidate for the presidential election, with party leaders, activists and many local residents hailing the development as a matter of pride for the district. Processions and sweet distribution were held at different places in the town after the ruling BNP announced his nomination on Thursday. In Thakurgaon, the name Mirza Fakhrul now dominates conversations at tea stalls, political gatherings and on social media. From serving as chairman of Thakurgaon municipality to becoming a central figure in national politics, Mirza Fakhrul has travelled a long political road. His nomination for the presidency has brought a fresh wave of excitement among people in his home district. The celebrations spread from the district BNP office to villages across Thakurgaon. Many locals see the development not merely as the nomination of a politician but as the prospect of someone from their own district occupying the country's highest constitutional office. For many residents, it is also a moment of pride for the northern region. Mirza Fakhrul grew up in Thakurgaon. After completing his higher education in economics at Dhaka University, he worked as a teacher at Dhaka College and government colleges in Dinajpur and Thakurgaon. He later served in senior positions in the education administration before leaving government service in 1988 to enter politics. His career as an elected representative began with his election as chairman of Thakurgaon municipality. He subsequently played a key role in organising BNP in the district before rising through the party's central leadership. Mirza Fakhrul was elected an MP from Thakurgaon-1 constituency in the 2001 general election and later served as a state minister. He eventually became BNP's acting secretary general before being appointed secretary general in 2016. Throughout his political career, he has faced arrests, cases and political challenges while remaining involved in the party's activities. For residents of Thakurgaon, his nomination is therefore being viewed as the culmination of a long political journey. Ramzan Ali, a farmer from Akcha union in Sadar upazila, said the development has brought him immense joy. “Fakhrul is one of our own. After years of struggle and sacrifice, hearing that he is now receiving the country's highest honour has made us very happy,” he said.