Members of the ruling BNP are meeting of the parliamentary party ahead of the presidential election. The meeting was presided over by parliament leader and prime minister Tarique Rahman on the ninth floor of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Wednesday (August 19th).
Prime minister’s deputy press secretary Zahidul Islam Rony confirmed this to Prothom Alo. BNP and like-minded parties Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir were also present at the meeting.
Voting will be held in the 23rd presidential election at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhavan on Thursday. According to the Election Commission’s schedule, voting will be allowed from 2pm to 5pm.
Thirty-five years after the presidential election
After a long thirty-five years, a direct vote is required for multiple candidates to run for the presidency. Retired Colonel Ali Ahmed, 11th party alliance nominee, has been nominated as the candidate of BNP and like-minded parties, against Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
A total of 349 MPs voter in the presidential election.
The last election was held in Parliament on October 8, 1991. Awami League’s Badruddoza Haider Chowdhury was a rival of BNP candidate Abdur Rahman Biswas in the election. Abdur Rahman Biswas was elected with 172 votes, while his rival got 92 votes.
As a result, tomorrow’s election is considered an important presidential election to be held after a long hiatus in the recent political history of Bangladesh.