The Awami League Parliamentary Party (ALPP) has given the full authority to ALLP chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is also the president of ruling Awami League, to nominate anyone as the Presidential candidate from the party, said Awami League general secretary ObaidulQuader.
The decision came on Tuesday night at the seventh meeting of the parliamentary body of the Awami League held at the National Parliament Building.
Sources said, Awami League general secretary ObaidulQuader proposed in the meeting that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina shouldfinalise the nomination to the post of President. Later, all the parliamentarians of the ruling party seconded the proposal to give this authority to Sheikh Hasina.
Chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the meeting, scheduled to start at 7:00pm, began at 8:00pm and continued till 9:00pm, said sources.
The meeting was organised to select a candidate from the party for the post of President of Bangladesh.
The term of existing President Md Abdul Hamid will expire on April 24.
According to the Constitution, members of parliament will vote for the post of president.
The main opposition in parliament Jatiya Party already said they would not nominate anyone for the post of the president. And since Awami League has a single majority in parliament, only the nominated candidate will be elected.
According to sources, Dr. ShirinSharmin Chowdhury, present Speaker in the National Parliament, might be chosen by the Awami League as the Presidential candidate.
Shirin, an MP from Rangpur-6, became the youngest Speaker of the House.
Some other names are also in discussion. They are Mashiur Rahman, an advisory council member of the Awami League and also the Economic Adviser of the Prime Minister, and Mosharraf Hossain, an MP from Chattogram-1.
The number one presidium member of the AL, Mosharraf Hossain was earlier the minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, and for Public Works and Housing.
Nomination papers for the presidential election have to be submitted to the Election Commission on February 12. The papers will be scrutinized next day.
If there is more than one candidate, the presidential election will be held in parliament on February 19. Members of parliament will cast their votes to elect the president.