Voting for the country’s much-anticipated presidential election ended on Thursday afternoon at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

The voting began at 2pm and continued till 5pm without any break.

At the beginning of the balloting, the acting president, the speaker, the prime minister, and presidential candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir cast their votes.

Acting president Hafiz Uddin Ahmad and acting speaker Kayser Kamal cast their votes at 2:10pm, while Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Mirza Fakhrul cast theirs at 2:11pm.

Before the balloting, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin briefed the lawmakers about the voting procedure.

Voting for the presidential election was held for the first time in 35 years with more than one candidate contesting the post.

BNP-nominated candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and opposition Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance contender Col (retd) Oli Ahmad are the candidates.

With BNP holding an absolute majority in parliament, Fakhrul is widely expected to be elected as the country’s 23rd president.

Under Article 70 of the constitution, lawmakers will lose their seats if they vote for a candidate contrary to their party’s decision.