Agu 2 (V7N) — The BNP on Saturday authorised its Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to finalise the party's candidate for the upcoming presidential election.

The decision was made at a meeting of the party's National Standing Committee held at the BNP Chairman's office in Gulshan in the evening.

After the meeting, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters that the Standing Committee has given Tarique Rahman full authority to take all decisions concerning the nomination 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 added that the Standing Committee also discussed the government's development activities, the upcoming local government polls and organisational issues.

The meeting, which started at 8pm, was chaired by Tarique Rahman.

Besides Fakhrul, 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.

Speaking after the meeting, Salahuddin Ahmed said the Election Commission is constitutionally bound to hold the presidential election within 90 days and has already expressed its preparedness.

"Once the Election Commission announces the schedule, our party chairman will finalise the candidate. The Standing Committee has entrusted him with that responsibility," he said.

When asked if any names were discussed for the presidency, he replied, "No, no names were discussed."

On July 24, Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned as President and Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad assumed office as acting President.

Under Article 123(2) of the Constitution, an election to fill the vacant post of President due to resignation must be held within 90 days of the vacancy.

The President is elected by members of Parliament for a five-year term. A person is not eligible to be elected President if he is under thirty-five years of age, not qualified for election as a Member of Parliament, or has been removed from the office of President through impeachment.

END/AJ/RH