BNP collects two nomination forms for presidential election

Ahead of the presidential election, the ruling BNP has collected two nomination forms from the office of the Election Commission returning officer. 

On Sunday, Jatiya Sangsad chief whip Nurul Islam Moni and BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi collected the two nomination forms from the Election Commission office in Agargaon in the capital.

This information was confirmed by Jatiya Sangsad chief whip Nurul Islam. 

He said the form has been taken for one person. However, two nomination forms have been collected to avoid any kind of mistake. 

However, it has not been collected in anyone’s name. We will submit the nomination as per the schedule.

He said BNP will submit the nomination forms as per the election schedule.

Meanwhile, the 11-party alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has already announced to field candidates for the presidential election. 

On Sunday, the alliance nominated Liberal Democratic Party chairman Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed as its presidential candidate. If contested, this will be the first presidential election with the participation of more than one candidate since 1991. 

In that year’s election, BNP candidate Abdur Rahman Biswas defeated Awami League candidate Badrul Haider Chowdhury. 

In the presidential election held thereafter, the ruling party’s nominated candidates were elected unopposed.

The Election Commission announced the schedule for the presidential election on August 6. After President Md Shahabuddin resigned on July 24, the polling date was set for August 20. 

According to the schedule, nomination papers can be submitted from 10am to 4pm on August 13. 

The scrutiny of nomination papers will be on August 16. The last date for withdrawal of candidacy is August 18. If there is more than one candidate, voting will be held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban from 2pm to 5pm on August 20.

Since the president was elected by the votes of parliamentarians, the BNP candidate, who has a single majority in parliament, is more likely to win. 

According to Article 70 of the constitution, no member of parliament can vote against his own party. If the parliament is not in session, the chief election commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin will convene a session of parliament for one day in consultation with the Speaker. If more than one candidate is in the fray, the chief election commissioner will convene that session seven days before the scheduled vote. 

However, this session will not be considered as a regular session of parliament.

There is a provision for collecting and submitting two nomination papers in the name of the same person for the post of president. This is because if there is any mistake in one nomination paper, the other can be taken into consideration.