Dhaka, Aug. 20 -- The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday issued a gazette notification declaring BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir elected as the President of Bangladesh.

The notification, issued under Section 11 of the Presidential Election Act, 1991, said Mirza Fakhrul was elected President in accordance with Rule 12(6) of the Presidential Election Rules, 1991.

The gazette notification was signed by EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed.

Mirza Fakhrul was elected the country's 23rd President earlier in the day, defeating his lone rival Col (retd) Oli Ahmad, the candidate of the 11-party opposition alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

Fakhrul secured 255 votes against Oli's 88 in the presidential election held in the sess...