Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Bangladesh's ruling BNP nominates Mirza Fakhrul as presidential candidate
In Bangladesh, the country's leader, called the president, is chosen by the elected parliament and not by a direct vote of the people.
The old president, Mohammed Shahabuddin, resigned in July because he had serious health problems.
That meant Bangladesh needed to choose a new president.
The ruling party, the BNP, chose its secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who is 78 years old, as its candidate.
To be a fair candidate, Alamgir gave up his party jobs, including his role as secretary general.
The main opposition group, Jamaat-e-Islami, picked a retired army colonel named Oli Ahmad as its candidate.
The presidential election will be held on August 20.
Because the BNP has most of the seats in parliament, Alamgir is in a strong position to win and become Bangladesh's 23rd president.
The president's job is mostly ceremonial, but the ruling party has promised to give the president more power.
Until a new president is elected, the Speaker of Parliament is serving as acting president.
Bangladesh's ruling BNP nominated 78-year-old secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as its presidential candidate.
Alamgir resigned as BNP secretary general and from its highest policy-making standing committee after being nominated.
The presidential election will be held on August 20; under the Election Commission's schedule, nomination papers were due by 4:00 pm on Thursday.
Opposition Jamaat-e-Islami fielded LDP Chairman Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmad, who has already submitted his nomination papers.
The election follows former president Mohammed Shahabuddin's July 24 resignation citing serious health problems, with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad serving as acting president.
- Who
- Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP); rival candidate Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmad of the LDP, fielded by opposition Jamaat-e-Islami.
- What
- The BNP nominated Alamgir as its candidate for Bangladesh's presidency, a post elected by parliament, setting the stage for his election as the next head of state.
- When
- Nomination announced on Thursday, August 13; the presidential election is scheduled for August 20.
- Where
- Bangladesh; the nomination was announced at the Prime Minister's Secretariat in Dhaka.
- Why
- A presidential election is required after former president Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned on July 24, citing serious health problems, about two years before the end of his term.
Official account
Speculation and analysis
Reason for Shahabuddin's resignation
Official account
Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned on July 24 citing serious health problems, about two years before the end of his term.
Speculation and analysis
The resignation came amid speculation that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's government was uncomfortable with the largely titular head of state; some reports claimed Shahabuddin contacted ex-PM Sheikh Hasina over the phone, which he dismissed as 'baseless'.
Role and powers of the president
Official account
The president is largely a ceremonial head of state under Bangladesh's parliamentary system, with constitutional powers such as commanding the armed forces generally exercised on the advice of the prime minister.
Speculation and analysis
Analysts said the presidency could assume greater significance under the caretaker government system recently reintroduced, and the BNP's election manifesto promised to equip the president with more power by amending the Constitution.
- Ruling party candidate
- Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir (BNP secretary general, age 78)
- Election date
- August 20
- Nomination deadline
- 4:00 pm Thursday (August 13)
- Opposition candidate
- Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmad (LDP Chairman, fielded by Jamaat-e-Islami)
- Former president
- Mohammed Shahabuddin (resigned July 24 on health grounds)
- Acting president
- Hafiz Uddin Ahmad (Parliamentary Speaker)
- Election method
- President is elected by parliament
- BNP parliamentary position
- Two-thirds majority after February 12 elections
