Bangladesh elects ruling party veteran Alamgir as president
Summary
Bangladesh’s parliament elected Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party as the new president after the previous president resigned for health reasons. Alamgir won by a large margin and becomes the ceremonial head of state and armed forces commander after recent political changes in the country.Key Facts
- Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, age 78, was elected president by a 255-to-88 vote in parliament.
- He defeated Oli Ahmed, an 84-year-old retired army colonel and opposition candidate.
- The previous president, Mohammed Shahabuddin, resigned due to health problems before completing his term.
- The presidency in Bangladesh is mostly symbolic but includes being head of state and commander-in-chief of armed forces.
- Alamgir is a senior leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which recently returned to power after youth protests ended the previous government.
- The BNP won a strong majority in the 2024 general election, leading to Tarique Rahman becoming prime minister.
- Sheikh Hasina, former prime minister, fled Bangladesh after the protests and now lives in India but plans to return.
- Alamgir has a long political history, starting in the 1990s and serving in various minister roles including agriculture and aviation.
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