Bangladesh’s 23rd presidential election is scheduled for August 20, with a parliamentary vote likely after the opposition 11-party alliance nominated LDP chairman Colonel (retd.) Oli Ahmed, Bir Bikram. The ruling BNP has not formally named its candidate, but party sources cited in the report said BNP Secretary General and LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is likely to receive the nomination.

The Election Commission’s voter list includes 349 lawmakers. BNP and its allies hold 250 seats, giving the ruling bloc a clear majority and making its nominee the expected winner, according to the report. The 11-party alliance has 90 lawmakers. Nomination papers must be submitted by August 13, scrutinised on August 16, and may be withdrawn until August 18.

If both candidates remain in the race, it will be the second time in Bangladesh’s history that lawmakers elect the head of state through a vote, and the first such contest in 35 years. Voting will take place in the parliamentary chamber under Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin as electoral authority. The law requires open voting, with each lawmaker having one vote.