Bangladesh’s Election Commission has issued nine instructions for members of parliament voting in the presidential election on Thursday, August 20. Voting will run continuously from 2pm to 5pm in the National Parliament. BNP-nominated Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Colonel (retd) Dr Oli Ahmad Bir Bikram, nominated by the 11-party alliance, are contesting the election.

Lawmakers must carry identification cards supplied by the Parliament Secretariat, collect ballots after taking their seats, and write their full names on the ballot counterfoil before returning it to an assisting official. To cast a vote, they must write their full names in the specified blank space opposite their preferred candidate’s name and place the ballot in the designated box.

No campaign activity, speeches or statements will be allowed during the meeting for voting. Damaged ballots must be shown to the election officer before being placed in the box. Counting will begin immediately after voting ends, with valid, invalid and unused ballots first recorded. The candidate receiving the most valid votes will be declared elected, followed by publication of the result in an Election Commission gazette.