Dhaka, 13 August (H.S.):
An 11-party opposition alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami has nominated Colonel (Retd.) Oli Ahmed as its candidate for Bangladesh’s presidential election scheduled for August 20.
Oli Ahmed, accompanied by a delegation of the opposition alliance led by Jamaat leader AHM Hamidur Rahman, visited the Election Commission building and submitted his nomination papers to Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin.
According to a report by the Dhaka Tribune, Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman, a Member of Parliament, proposed Oli Ahmed’s name as the presidential candidate, while NCP MP Abdullah Al Amin seconded the nomination. Oli Ahmed is the chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
The presidential election is scheduled for August 20, with the Chief Election Commissioner serving as the Returning Officer. Under the Presidential Election Act, 1991, the Chief Election Commissioner has called a meeting of members of Parliament in the Session Chamber of the Jatiya Sangsad for the election.
The scrutiny of nomination papers will be conducted on August 16, while candidates can withdraw their nominations until August 18. Polling will take place on August 20 from 2 pm to 5 pm in the Session Chamber of the Jatiya Sangsad.
A total of 349 MPs are eligible to vote in the presidential election. One parliamentary seat, Chattogram-4, is currently vacant. The election will be the first presidential contest in 35 years to feature more than one candidate and will also mark the first time since 1991 that voting is being held for the presidency.
The name of Rural Development Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has already emerged in media reports as a possible presidential candidate of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
The presidential election has been necessitated by the resignation of Mohammed Shahabuddin on July 24. Following his resignation, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed assumed the responsibilities of acting president.
Under Article 123(2) of Bangladesh’s Constitution, an election to fill a presidential vacancy caused by resignation must be held within 90 days of the office becoming vacant.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
