Presidential election: EC declares candidacies of Mirza Fakhrul, Oli Ahmad valid
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, also the election officer, declared their nomination papers valid after the scrutiny at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city's Agargaon area.
The Election Commission (EC) today (16 August) declared the candidacies of BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and the opposition Jamaat-led 11-party alliance contender Col (retd) Oli Ahmad valid for the upcoming presidential election scheduled to be held on 20 August .
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, also the election officer, declared their nomination papers valid after the scrutiny at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city's Agargaon area.
The nomination paper filed for Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Chairman Col (retd) Oli Ahmad was first declared valid and then that submitted for Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced valid.
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During the scrutiny, leaders from both the ruling and opposition camps were present.
According to the election schedule, now the valid candidates will then be able to withdraw their nominations by 4pm on 18 August.
If more than one candidate remains in the race, voting will be held in the session chamber of the Jatiya Sangsad from 2pm to 5pm on Thursday (20 August).
A total of 249 Members of Parliament are eligible to cast their votes.
In the presidential race to Bangabhaban, a total of three nomination papers were submitted, one for Mirza Fakhrul and two others for Oli Ahmad.
As the first nomination paper submitted for Oli Ahmad was found valid, the second one would automatically become invalid.
Since BNP has an absolute majority in the parliament, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is set to be elected the president.
Speaking to reporters after the scrutiny, EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said both candidates' nomination papers for the upcoming presidential election had been found valid.
"Both candidates have been declared valid after the election officer examined their nomination papers," he said. The EC received two nomination papers for Oli Ahmed, while Fakhrul submitted one.
If neither of the two valid candidates withdraws, the presidential election will go to a vote on 20 August, marking the first such contest since 1991.
