The BNP has entrusted party Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman with the authority to finalize the party’s candidate for the upcoming presidential election.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the party’s National Standing Committee held at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office on Saturday evening.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the Standing Committee had authorized Tarique Rahman to make all decisions regarding the party’s presidential nominee and the election process.
“On behalf of the party, we have entrusted all responsibilities relating to the selection of the presidential candidate and the election to our Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman,” Fakhrul said.
He said the Standing Committee also discussed the government’s development activities, the upcoming local government elections and various organisational matters.
The meeting, which began at 8:00pm, was chaired by Tarique Rahman.
BNP Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Selima Rahman, Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku and Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain attended the meeting.
Speaking after the meeting, Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said the Election Commission is constitutionally required to hold the presidential election within 90 days and has already indicated its readiness to conduct the polls.
“Once the Election Commission announces the election schedule, our party chairman will finalize the candidate. The Standing Committee has entrusted him with that responsibility,” he said.
Asked whether any specific names had been discussed for the presidency, Salahuddin replied, “No, no names were discussed.”
Former President Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned on July 24, after which Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad assumed the responsibilities of acting president.
Under Article 123(2) of the Constitution, an election to fill a vacancy in the office of the president must be held within 90 days of the position becoming vacant due to resignation.
The president is elected by members of Parliament for a five-year term. Under the Constitution, a presidential candidate must be at least 35 years old, be qualified for election as a member of Parliament and must not have been removed from the office of president through impeachment.
