Sarjis Alam, chief organizer for the southern region of the National Citizen Party (NCP), congratulated veteran politician Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir after his election as Bangladesh’s 23rd president. The message was posted on Facebook on Thursday, according to a report published by Amardesh Online on August 20, 2026.

In his statement, Sarjis said he was offering sincere congratulations on behalf of the NCP. He expressed hope that Mirza Fakhrul, as head of state in the coming days, would make his utmost effort to establish justice, uphold democracy, and protect the country’s independence and sovereignty.

The statement also conveyed prayers and best wishes for the newly elected president. The source did not provide further details about the presidential election, the election process, or any response from Mirza Fakhrul.

A delegation from the National Citizen Party (NCP) met Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen at the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka on Thursday morning. The delegation was led by NCP spokesperson and head of its international relations and expatriate affairs subcommittee, Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan. The meeting addressed Bangladesh-China bilateral relations, regional developments and matters of mutual interest.

Both sides exchanged views in what was described as a cordial and constructive atmosphere. The discussion included issues connected to regional circumstances as well as areas of shared concern between Bangladesh and China. The source did not report any agreement, decision or specific proposal resulting from the meeting.

Participants stressed the importance of continued diplomatic communication, mutual respect and cooperation for regional stability and shared development. Other members of the NCP delegation included subcommittee members Alauddin Mohammad, Mahbub Alam, Navid Nawroz Shah and Manjila Jhuma.

Bangladesh’s Election Commission on Thursday issued a gazette declaring Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir elected as the country’s 23rd president. The notice, signed by Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, said he had been elected president under the President Election Act, 1991, and the President Election Rules, 1991. The report was published on August 20, 2026.

Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin announced that 343 votes were cast from a total electorate of 349. Mirza Fakhrul received 255 votes, while his opponent, retired Colonel Oli Ahmed, received 88 votes. Fakhrul was the candidate of the BNP and like-minded parties, while Oli contested as the candidate of the 11-party alliance and president of the Liberal Democratic Party.

The Election Commission announced the election schedule for the vacant post on August 6. The vacancy arose after the 22nd president resigned on July 24, citing illness. The gazette formally records Fakhrul’s election to the office of president.

The Prime Minister’s Office has directed ministries, divisions, directorates and agencies to reconstitute and update all existing committees operating at divisional, district and উপজেলা levels. A letter issued by the office on Tuesday, signed by Director-2 Md Ashraful Islam, instructed authorities to notify the Prime Minister’s Office after completing the work by September 15, 2026.

The directive said committees were formed at different administrative levels to manage and implement government activities. A review found that most had been established several years ago and were no longer updated, while notices and operational information for some committees could not be found. It therefore called for all existing committees to be reconstituted and updated.

Authorities must ensure representation of all relevant stakeholders during the process. Every reconstituted committee must include three respected local people as members, including at least one woman, with nominations to be made by the committee chair or convener. The instruction prioritises 98 committees listed in an attachment, alongside all other existing committees under ministries, divisions, offices and agencies.

The British High Commission in Dhaka and the Chinese Embassy congratulated Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir after he was elected Bangladesh’s 23rd president. The separate messages were issued on Thursday following the announcement of the presidential election result, according to the report published on August 20, 2026.

China said it attaches great importance to Bangladesh-China relations and is ready to work closely with Bangladesh to jointly build a China-Bangladesh community with a shared future in the new era. The Chinese Embassy said stronger mutual cooperation would bring greater benefits to Bangladesh, China and the people of both countries.

The British High Commission said the United Kingdom looks forward to working with President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and the Bangladesh government to further strengthen the close and longstanding partnership between the two countries. Mirza Fakhrul, the BNP candidate, was elected by votes of members of parliament, receiving 255 votes. Oli Ahmed, the candidate of the 11-party alliance, received 88 votes.

Dr Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmad Bir Bikram, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party and the 11-party alliance’s presidential candidate, congratulated Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on being elected Bangladesh’s 23rd president. The congratulatory message was sent to the media on Thursday.

Oli said he hoped the president-elect would be able to carry out his responsibilities firmly and efficiently as the guardian of the state and constitution. He said those duties should include protecting independence, democracy and justice.

The LDP chairman also wished Mirza Fakhrul good health and a long life. The source did not provide further details about the election or any response from the president-elect.

Natalie Harp, 35, has emerged as one of US President Donald Trump’s closest and most trusted aides, according to the report published on August 20, 2026. Her duties include typing posts for Trump’s Truth Social account, printing news and information for him, and accompanying him on trips. Her proximity to the president has prompted renewed discussion over her influence inside the White House.

Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff recently raised questions about Harp’s closeness to Trump. He criticized Trump’s travel with Harp on what he described as an unprotected “flying palace” gifted by the Emir of Qatar. The report says Harp was among a small group of aides who accompanied Trump when he secretly left Turkey on a smaller aircraft in July because of threats from Iran.

Born in California and raised in a conservative Christian family, Harp gained prominence after saying Trump had saved her life. She received treatment for bone cancer after experimental-treatment access was expanded during Trump’s first term. Harp later joined a 2020 Trump reelection advisory board and his subsequent 2022 presidential campaign. Formally an executive assistant, she is seen as influential over information reaching Trump and his social-media posts.

Amar Bangladesh Party, or AB Party, congratulated BNP Secretary General and veteran politician Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir after his election as Bangladesh’s 23rd president. The party’s chairman, Mojibur Rahman Manju, and general secretary Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad issued the message on August 20, 2026, extending their greetings and best wishes to the president-elect.

In their statement, the leaders described his assumption of the presidency as an important political and constitutional development in Bangladesh’s new post-fascism political reality. They said his long political experience, democratic practice and understanding of state affairs could contribute positively to institutionalising democracy. They also thanked opposing presidential candidate Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram for what they called his courtesy and empathy in keeping with democratic norms.

AB Party said people expect Mirza Fakhrul to rise above party and political identities and serve as a guardian for all citizens. It expressed hope that he would protect the rule of law, constitutional institutions’ independence, citizens’ rights, political pluralism and national unity while preserving the office’s dignity, neutrality and traditions.

Nahid Islam, opposition chief whip in the national parliament and convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), accused the BNP of saying one thing and doing another. He made the remarks to journalists while entering the parliament building on Thursday before voting began in the presidential election.

Islam said he had expected the presidential election to be held through implementation of a referendum verdict, but that had not happened. Referring to reform of Article 70 of the constitution, he said reform had been discussed but was not carried out. He added that the presidency would have been more dignified if legislators had been able to vote independently.

The NCP convener alleged that the BNP government speaks of implementing the referendum and the July Charter but is not doing so. He said his party participated in the presidential election as part of competitive democratic practice. Islam also alleged that the BNP was working against the July Charter and the referendum, and called for prompt implementation of the July Charter.

BNP has appointed its standing committee member Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi as the party’s acting secretary general. The appointment was announced in a BNP press release on Thursday, published on August 20, 2026. The party said the nomination takes effect immediately.

According to the release, Rizvi was nominated in line with the BNP constitution. It identified him as a member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s national standing committee before his appointment to the acting secretary general position.

The announcement was signed by BNP joint office secretary Muhammad Munir Hossain. The source did not provide further details on the reason for the appointment, the tenure of the acting role, or any additional responsibilities attached to the post.

Ruling BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was elected president with 255 votes, according to the reported results of the presidential election. National Parliament Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni said the new president will take the oath at Bangabhaban at 7pm on Friday. The report was published on August 20, 2026.

His opponent, Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram, the candidate of the 11-party alliance, received 88 votes. Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin announced the result after voting was held from 2pm to 5pm on Thursday.

There were 349 eligible voters in the election. Three lawmakers were absent: Mirza Abbas of the Dhaka-8 constituency, Mostafa Kamal Pasha of Chattogram-3, and independent Brahmanbaria-2 member Rumin Farhana. The chief whip’s statement sets the inauguration ceremony for Friday evening at Bangabhaban.

Former interim government chief adviser and Nobel laureate Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus sent a message of congratulations to Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir after his election as Bangladesh’s 23rd president. The message was issued by the Yunus Centre on Thursday and reported on August 20, 2026.

Yunus said Alamgir’s political career spans more than five decades and is closely connected with Bangladesh’s political history. He cited Alamgir’s organisational ability, wisdom, leadership during crises and experience of working closely with grassroots people as qualities that have established him in a distinct position in national politics.

The congratulatory message described Alamgir as an educator, an experienced politician and a decent person. Yunus said taking on the new responsibility would further uphold the dignity of the country’s highest constitutional office. He expressed hope that Bangladesh would advance toward greater prosperity, justice and democracy under President Alamgir’s leadership, while wishing him good health, long life and success in carrying out his duties.

Acting President Hafizuddin Ahmed Bir Bikram has extended sincere congratulations and best wishes to newly elected President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, according to acting presidential deputy press secretary Rahat Hasnat on Thursday, August 20, 2026. Fakhrul, the ruling BNP candidate, was elected president after receiving 255 votes in a parliamentary election held at the National Parliament Building.

Voting began at 2pm on Thursday and continued until 5pm. Colonel (retd.) Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram, the candidate of the 11-party alliance, received 88 votes. The report said the vote was held 35 years after the previous presidential election.

The presidential post became vacant after then-president Md Shahabuddin resigned on July 24, citing health reasons. Under Article 54 of the constitution, Hafizuddin Ahmed, as speaker of the National Parliament, assumed duties as acting president and had performed the role for nearly a month before the process to elect a new president began.

Israeli Democrats Party leader Yair Golan has described Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an extremist and untrustworthy figure while criticizing Israel’s recent attacks in Syria. Golan made the remarks in a post on social media platform X, according to a report published on August 20, 2026.

Golan called the Israeli strikes in Syria a provocative and dangerous move. He said the attacks risked pushing Israel toward conflict with Turkey, and alleged that military force was being used for political considerations.

The opposition leader said Netanyahu’s actions were undermining confidence in Israel. He argued that the country needs leadership that uses power and military strength to ensure security, rather than starting another war to preserve political survival.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi said New Delhi is awaiting a visit by Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. He made the remark on Thursday after a courtesy meeting with Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain at the Secretariat, according to the report published on August 20, 2026.

Sakhawat Hossain said the meeting was strictly a courtesy call and that no discussion took place on the prime minister’s prospective India visit. He said, however, that the Indian high commissioner conveyed that New Delhi was waiting for the Bangladeshi prime minister’s visit. The meeting also included courtesy discussions on bilateral relations and cooperation.

At the start of the meeting, Trivedi expressed deep sorrow and condolences over the deaths of nine Bangladeshi citizens in a hotel fire in Kolkata. He said the Indian government would take the necessary measures to provide compensation and other required assistance in response to the incident.