Multiple BNP sources said that at 11:30 am today, a meeting of senior party leaders will be held with Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman at the PM's Tejgaon office. Top cabinet members are also expected to be present at the meeting. After the meeting, the name of the party's nominated candidate for the presidency may be officially announced at noon.
Afterwards, a BNP delegation will go to the Election Commission and submit the nomination paper.
A member of BNP's standing committee said, at the meeting, besides obtaining the signature of the probable candidate, the nomination form with the signatures of the proposer and seconder will be prepared. Later it will be submitted to the Election Commission within the stipulated time.
Mirza Fakhrul leads
Multiple BNP sources claim that the name of Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is being discussed the most for the post of president. His name has come under consideration for the presidency due to his long political experience, serving as the party's secretary general, and holding charge of an important government ministry.
BNP Chairman's adviser Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal said, the President is the most honorable constitutional post of the country. A qualified, wise and experienced person should be nominated for this post. He also commented that Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is ahead considering that he can play the role of guardian during the country's crisis and transition period.
Meanwhile, the Local Government Ministry source said that Mirza Fakhrul left the Secretariat on Wednesday afternoon. He has no official schedule today.
Party sources say, if Mirza Fakhrul becomes the presidential candidate, who will be BNP's next secretary general and who will be given charge of the local government ministry - these issues may also be discussed at the meeting.
Jamaat alliance candidate Oli Ahmad
On the other hand, LDP Chairman Colonel (retd.) Oli Ahmad has been finalized as the candidate of the 11-party unity alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami in the presidential election.
However, since BNP has a two-thirds majority in parliament, the party's nominated candidate is most likely to win the presidential election. As a result, there is discussion in political circles that if BNP officially announces Mirza Fakhrul's name as its candidate, he will in effect become the country's 23rd president.
Today is the last day for submitting nominations
According to the schedule announced by the Election Commission, nomination papers for the post of president can be submitted today Thursday from 10 am to 4 pm. The nomination papers will be scrutinized on August 16. The last time to withdraw candidacy is 4 pm on August 18.
If there are multiple candidates, voting will be held in the National Parliament on August 20 from 2 pm to 5 pm. Only parliament members vote in the presidential election.
EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said the ballot paper will contain the names of the contesting candidates. Lawmakers will sign beside the name of their preferred candidate and deposit the ballot in the designated box. After counting of votes, the Chief Election Commissioner will announce the result.
Earlier, on July 24, the 22nd President Md. Sahabuddin resigned citing illness. Then on August 6, the Election Commission announced the schedule for the presidential election fixing August 20 as the voting date.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, a member of parliament elected from Thakurgaon-1 constituency, is currently serving as the Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives.
