BNP finally nominates Mirza Fakhrul as presidential candidate

The ruling party BNP has finally announced the name of the party's Secretary General and LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as its presidential candidate as a formal move.

The decision came on Thursday (13 August) during the BNP's highest policy making body the National Standing Committee Members meeting with its Chairman and the Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at Secretariat.

BNP Senior Joint-Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi revealed the decision to journalists after the meeting at the secretariat in the noon.

Prime Minster and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman nominated the party’s Secterary General and Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD) Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as the candidate for the upcoming Presidential election.

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has resigned from the posts of the party secretary general and the party's standing committee.

Earlier, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday (9 August) initially confirmed the candidacy of Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as the presidential candidate for the election scheduled for 20 August, party insiders said to Asia Post.

The Election Commission (EC) Secretary Akhtar Ahmed on Thursday (6 August) announced the schedule of the president election.

As per the schedule nomination papers could be submitted till 13 August. On August 16, the nomination papers will be scrutinized. The last day of withdrawal of the nomination is 18 August.

Earlier, the voter list was sent to the election commission from the Parliament secretariat as part of the preparation of president election, sources said.

As part of the constitutional procedures of president election, the Parliament secretariat has sent the voter list prepared combining Members of Parliament (MPs).

Meanwhile, election commission sources said, after getting the voter list, the EC will scrutinize that and then to initiate necessary procedures.

As per the national constitution, only elected members of the parliament are eligible to elect president of the country.

As per the rule, EC has to conduct President election within 90 days after s vacant.

There are rule to elect the president through MP’s secrete vote.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin will take the responsibility of the Returning Officer.

Speaker of the Parliament has taken the responsibility of Acting President of the country.

Earlier on Monday (3 August), EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said, “After receiving voter list, we will discuss over the schedule of president election.

The 22th President of the country, Mohammed Shahabuddin was resigned on 24 July. The EC has started procedures to announce the schedule of election to elect the 23rd president of the country.

The CEC has talked with the Speaker of the Parliament on the issue.