EC ready for presidential election, schedule to be announced soon: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Tuesday said the Election Commission (EC) is fully prepared to conduct presidential election in Bangladesh.

The election schedule to be announced after completing the mandatory consultation process, he said.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Acting Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the CEC said no date had yet been fixed, but the discussion focused on the legal and procedural framework for the election.

"The Election Commission is ready to hold the presidential election. Under the Presidential Election Act, 1991, we are required to consult the Speaker before announcing the election schedule," Nasir Uddin said.

He noted that the country's former Speaker is currently serving as the Acting President following the resignation of President Mohammed Shahabuddin, making it necessary to elect a new Head of State.

The CEC said the meeting covered key procedural issues, including the nomination process, scrutiny of nomination papers, withdrawal of candidatures and the legal provisions governing different election scenarios.

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"We held detailed discussions on the procedures. If the election is contested, one set of rules will apply. If there is only one candidate, the process will be different. There are also separate legal provisions depending on whether Parliament is in session," he said.

The consultation was held in line with the Presidential Election Act, 1991, which requires the Election Commission to consult the Speaker before finalising the election schedule. The EC is expected to announce the timetable after completing the required formalities.