Voting in Bangladesh’s presidential election began on Thursday, with members of parliament casting their ballots to elect the country’s 23rd President.

The polling began at 2pm at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, where MPs are the electors in the presidential election. The voting will continue till 5pm.

The election has drawn particular attention as it marks the selection of Bangladesh’s 23rd President. The voting process is being conducted in accordance with the constitutional provisions governing the election of the head of state.

The President is elected by MPs through a secret ballot. The candidate securing the required majority of votes will be declared elected.

The Election Commission is overseeing the polling process and is expected to announce the result after the votes are counted.

Voting in the presidential election is being held for the first time in 35 years as more than one candidate is contesting the post.

BNP and its like-minded parties have nominated former BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as their candidate.

Retired Colonel Oli Ahmed is the candidate of an 11-party alliance comprising Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and other parties.

A total of 349 members of parliament are eligible to vote in the presidential election.

The last contested presidential election by parliamentary vote was held on 8 October, 1991, in the Jatiya Sangsad chamber.

BNP nominated Abdur Rahman Biswas, while Awami League nominated Badrul Haider Chowdhury.

In that election, Abdur Rahman Biswas defeated Awami League candidate Badrul Haider Chowdhury, securing 172 votes against his rival’s 92, and became the country’s 11th president.