Doha: Bangladesh's National Parliament on Thursday elected ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as the country's new president, making him the 23rd president of the republic. The 78-year-old Alamgir secured 255 votes, defeating his sole rival, Oli Ahmed, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party, who garnered 88 votes.

According to Qatar News Agency, a total of 343 out of 349 eligible lawmakers participated in the voting process, with six abstaining. This election marks Bangladesh's first contested presidential vote in 35 years, a significant event in the nation's political history.

The election was necessitated by the resignation of former President Mohammed Shahabuddin last July due to health concerns. Following the February 2026 parliamentary elections, the BNP returned to power, with Tarique Rahman assuming the role of prime minister.

The president-elect, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, is scheduled to take the constitutional oath on Friday, marking the beginning of his tenure as the head of state.