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The 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami has finalised Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Chairman Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed as its candidate for the country’s 23rd presidential election.
National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam disclosed the decision after a meeting with alliance partners at the residence of the opposition leader on Minto Road in Dhaka at around 11:30am on Sunday (August 9).
The move sets the stage for only the second contested presidential election since the restoration of parliamentary democracy in 1991.
Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman chaired the meeting. Among those present were Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque, NCP Convener Nahid Islam, Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, Assistant Secretary General Dr AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, JAGPA Vice-President Rashed Pradhan, Labour Party Chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran, AB Party General Secretary Barrister Fuad and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Secretary General Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmad.
In 1991, the Awami League, then the main opposition party, nominated Justice Badrul Haider Chowdhury for president. He lost to BNP candidate Abdur Rahman Biswas by 80 votes.
Since then, presidential elections have effectively been uncontested, with candidates nominated by the ruling party winning without opposition.
In the 13th parliamentary election held on February 12 this year, the BNP secured a majority with 211 of the 300 parliamentary seats. The Jamaat-led alliance won 68 seats.
Among BNP’s alliance partners, the Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), Ganosamhati Andolon and Gono Odhikar Parishad won one seat each. Within the Jamaat-led alliance, the NCP won six seats, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis two and Khelafat Majlis one. Seven independent candidates and Islami Andolan Bangladesh also won one seat each.