Rumeen Farhana and Gazi Nazrul absent from JS during presidential election

Voting in the much-discussed presidential election began at the Jatiya Sangsad chamber shortly after the scheduled time on Thursday (August 20). Members of Parliament began casting their ballots at 2:10pm.

The election is being conducted under the supervision of a panel formed by the Election Commission.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and BNP presidential candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir were among those who had already cast their votes, along with most other MPs.

However, two MPs had not been seen at the polling centre by 4pm. They are independent MP Rumeen Farhana, representing Brahmanbaria-2, and Jamaat-e-Islami MP Gazi Nazrul Islam, elected from Satkhira-4.

According to parliamentary sources, Jamaat-e-Islami has already expelled Gazi Nazrul Islam from the party over a controversial video that circulated on social media.

Independent MP Rumeen Farhana, meanwhile, is eligible to vote for any of the candidates contesting the presidential election. However, she had not been seen casting her ballot in the chamber by 4pm.

Officials involved in conducting the election said arrangements had been made for MPs to cast their ballots from their respective seats. Three ballot boxes have been placed inside the chamber for the voting process. Following the prescribed procedure, MPs sign their ballot papers, cast their votes for their preferred candidate and deposit the ballots in the designated boxes.

Voting will remain open until 5pm. Any MP included on the voter list who arrives at the chamber before the close of polling will be allowed to vote.

Counting will begin immediately after voting ends. The Election Officer and Chief Election Commissioner, A. M. M. Nasir Uddin, will then announce the result.

Meanwhile, after casting their votes, MPs from various political parties were seen exchanging greetings and taking photographs with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and BNP presidential candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

As this is the first contested presidential election in nearly 35 years, the voting process has generated considerable interest among political activists and MPs at Parliament.