Rezaul Karim Reza:
The Election Commission (EC) has started preparations for Bangladesh’s next presidential election following the resignation of President Mohammed Shahabuddin. As part of the process, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin is expected to meet Acting Speaker Kaysar Kamal in the coming days.
According to EC officials, the meeting will be held in line with established practice before the election schedule is announced. The EC Secretariat will send a letter to the Acting Speaker within the next few days seeking an appointment.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned on Friday, citing serious health complications. Under the Constitution, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed will perform the duties of the President until a new head of state is elected. During this period, Deputy Speaker Kaysar Kamal will serve as Acting Speaker. The government has already issued official gazette notifications regarding the President’s resignation and the interim arrangements.
At an informal meeting on Sunday, the Election Commission reviewed the legal and constitutional procedures for holding the presidential election.
EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said preparations for the election had already begun.
“Following established practice, the Chief Election Commissioner will meet the Acting Speaker. We will send a letter seeking an appointment within the next couple of days, and the meeting will take place once a suitable time is fixed,” he said.
Election Must Be Held Within 90 Days
The Constitution requires a new presidential election to be held within 90 days of the office becoming vacant. Election Commission officials said they are making the necessary preparations to complete the process within the constitutional deadline.
The President is elected through a secret ballot by members of Parliament. The Parliament Secretariat will provide the updated list of MPs to the Election Commission, after which the EC will announce the election schedule.
Law Minister Asaduzzaman expressed hope that the new President would be elected during the next session of Parliament, in line with the constitutional timeframe.
EC Yet to Receive Parliamentary Reference on MP Gazi Nazrul
Meanwhile, the Election Commission says it has not yet received any official communication from the Parliament Secretariat regarding expelled Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Gazi Nazrul Islam.
EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said the Commission had received a letter from Jamaat-e-Islami informing it of the party’s decision to expel the MP. However, no formal reference has yet been sent by Parliament.
Gazi Nazrul Islam was elected from the Satkhira-4 (Shyamnagar) constituency on the Jamaat-backed Daripalla (Scales) symbol in the 13th parliamentary election. He was expelled from the party on July 22 after a private video involving a woman circulated on social media. Nazrul later claimed in a Facebook post that the woman was his second wife. The following day, Jamaat informed both the Speaker and the Election Commission of its decision.
Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said expulsion from a political party does not automatically result in the loss of a parliamentary seat. He added that the Commission would examine the matter under the Constitution and relevant laws if it receives a formal reference from the Speaker or the Parliament Secretariat.
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