Voting has begun in the National Assembly for the second time in nearly 35 years in the country’s presidential election. The voting process, which began at 2 pm on Thursday (August 20) in the parliament chamber of the National Assembly building, will continue until 5 pm. 348 MPs are exercising their right to vote.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is contesting as the nominated candidate of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in this election.

On the other hand, retired Colonel Oli Ahmed is contesting on behalf of the 11-party unity. Currently, the total number of voters is 349 as the Chattogram-4 constituency of the National Assembly is vacant. However, Dhaka-8 constituency MP Mirza Abbas is abstaining from voting as he is abroad for medical reasons.

175 votes will be required to win the election. As Article 70 of the Constitution does not allow MPs to vote against party decisions, the victory of BNP nominated candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is almost certain. If elected, he will be the 23rd President of the country.

As a member of parliament, presidential candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will also be able to vote. However, if elected president, his parliamentary seat will automatically become vacant. At the same time, he will resign from the post of minister.

On the other hand, since he is not a member of parliament, Oli Ahmed, the candidate of the 11-party alliance, will not be able to vote.

The Election Commission said that 4 ballot boxes have been placed in the parliament chamber. Members of parliament will vote publicly. The ballot will mention the name of the voter and the candidate for whom he voted.

Before the voting, the Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commissioners, Election Commission Secretary and Secretary of the Parliament Secretariat are sitting in the designated place in front of the Speaker’s seat in the parliament chamber. Members of parliament are voting sitting in their respective seats. A list of 20 officials from the Election Commission was also sent to the Parliament Secretariat to assist in the election.

This is the first time since 1991 that the presidential election is being held. In almost all previous elections, the candidate nominated by the ruling party has been elected president unopposed. The last time BNP candidate Abdur Rahman Biswas was elected President was in 1991.