Desk News || BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been elected as the 23rd President of Bangladesh, securing 255 votes. His rival, Colonel (retd.) Oli Ahmed, the presidential candidate of the 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami, received 88 votes.The presidential election was held at the Jatiya Sangsad on Thursday (August 20), marking the first such election in 35 years. Voting began shortly after 2:00 pm and ended at 5:00 pm.A total of 349 Members of Parliament were eligible to vote in the election. Of them, six MPs did not cast their ballots.Under Article 70 of the Constitution, MPs are not allowed to vote against their party's decision. However, independent MPs were free to vote for either of the two candidates.The voting began with Acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmad (Bir Bikram) casting his ballot, followed by Acting Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal and Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman. BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir subsequently cast his vote.The election was conducted by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Returning Officer A. M. M. Nasir Uddin.