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The Election Commission (EC), led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, held a meeting with Acting Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal on Tuesday morning, paving the way for the announcement of the presidential election schedule.
The meeting began at 11:00am at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, with Election Commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Tahmida Ahmad and Md Anwarul Islam Sarker, along with EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, in attendance.
Under the Presidential Election Act, 1991, the EC is required to consult the Speaker before finalising the election schedule. If Parliament is in session, the Commission must issue the election notification at least seven days before polling. If not, it must, in consultation with the Speaker, convene a meeting of Members of Parliament (MPs) at least a week ahead of the vote.
As part of the rules, the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat will provide the list of MPs to the EC, which will then prepare and publish the electoral roll before announcing the schedule.
According to Article 123(2) of the Constitution, a presidential election must be held within 90 days of the office falling vacant due to resignation.
CEC AMM Nasir Uddin will serve as the Returning Officer for the election, which will be decided by votes of MPs. A candidate must be nominated by one MP and seconded by another. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes will be declared elected. In the event of a tie, the outcome will be decided by a lottery, with the CEC’s declaration deemed final.
The development follows the resignation of President Mohammed Shahabuddin on July 24, after which Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad assumed charge as acting president.