Voting underway in presidential election; PM casts ballot

The presidential polling began this afternoon at the Jatiya Sangsad, where 349 lawmakers is expected to cast their votes for BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and LDP candidate Col (retd) Oli Ahmed, backed by the Jamaat led 11-party alliance.

The polling began at 2.00pm and will continue for three hours.

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The polling began at 2.00pm and will continue for three hours.

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At the outset of his remarks, AMM Nasir Uddin, chief election commissioner and election officer for the presidential election, informed lawmakers of the names of the two contesting candidates and explained the voting procedure.

He said that EC’s supporting officials will carry the ballots to MPs.

The CEC said counting will begin after 5:00pm. The candidate securing the highest number of votes will be declared the winner on a preliminary basis inside the chamber. The official gazette notification will follow later.

Under Article 10(1) of the 1991 Presidential Election Act, the president is elected by votes cast by members of parliament. Lawmakers may remain inside the chamber during voting and counting.

The CEC requested the MPs to sign their full names while casting ballots.

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Acting President Hafizuddin Ahmed casted his vote, followed by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni. After casting his ballot, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir shook hands with opposition leaders.

Acting Speaker Kayser Kamal, BNP leaders Selima Rahman, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Zahir Uddin Swapan, Abdul Awal Mintu, Nipun Roy Chowdhury, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Amanullah Aman also cast their votes.

Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman,  Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam, Deputy Leader of the Opposition Abdullah Mohammad Taher, and National Citizen Party lawmakers Hasnat Abdullah and Akhtar Hossain, have also joined the voting process, casting their ballots.

The presidential election is being held through a special meeting summoned by the Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, who is also the election officer for the poll.

Both the polling and counting will be telecast live on the state-run BTV.

Following the resignation of president Mohammed Shahabuddin on July 24, the Election Commission announced today’s poll schedule.