Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir Elected 23rd President of Bangladesh

Bangladesh's parliament elected Bangladesh Nationalist Party veteran Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as the country's 23rd president on Thursday following the resignation of Mohammed Shahabuddin.

The 78-year-old Alamgir secured the presidency after a 255-to-88 parliamentary vote, defeating opposition candidate Oli Ahmed, an 84-year-old retired army colonel.

Alamgir, who previously served as a local government minister, will assume the largely ceremonial role as head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.