BNP MPs meet ahead of presidential election

Members of Parliament from the ruling BNP on Wednesday (19 August) 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.

LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, also the ruling party’s candidate for the presidency, was 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.

Source: UNB