Dhaka’s political landscape is shifting dramatically after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) clinched a resounding victory in the 13th parliamentary elections, securing 209 seats and seizing control of the government. With Tarique Rahman set to become the new Prime Minister, the party’s top brass is now deep in deliberations over who will occupy the president’s office next.
Speculation is rife across social media and local news outlets, with several prominent names floating as frontrunners. According to sources cited by the influential Bengali daily Prothom Alo, Standing Committee member Khondaker Mosarraf Hossain emerges as the leading candidate, backed strongly within party circles.
Joining him in the mix is another Standing Committee heavyweight, Nazrul Islam Khan. Ekhoon TV has amplified the buzz, adding BNP leaders Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Abdul Moyeen Khan to the list of potential presidential nominees.
Despite the competition, Prothom Alo reports indicate BNP’s preference tilts decisively toward Hossain. Under Rahman’s leadership, the party’s landslide win positions it to dominate the upcoming presidential election, which constitutional rules mandate through a parliamentary vote.
Newly elected MPs are scheduled to take oath on Tuesday, paving the way for cabinet formations amid ongoing internal meetings. Reports suggest several ministerial appointments are nearly finalized.
Incumbent President Mohammed Shahabuddin, nominated by the rival Awami League and elected unopposed in 2023 at age 75, has hinted at resigning post-new government formation. In a December 2025 international media interview, he expressed intentions to step down before his term ends in April 2028.
For BNP, with its parliamentary supermajority, selecting the next president is largely a procedural step. This development marks a pivotal transition, underscoring the party’s firm grip on Bangladesh’s future leadership.