EC ready to conduct presidential election, schedule soon: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin said on Tuesday that the Election Commission (EC) stands fully prepared to hold the presidential election, following preliminary talks with acting Speaker Kayser Kamal on the legal procedures involved.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the CEC said the consultation was held in line with the Presidential Election Act, 1991, which obliges the commission to consult the speaker before fixing the election schedule.

“You know that our former Speaker is now serving as the Acting President. We have to elect a new President, and conducting that election is the responsibility of the Election Commission,” Nasir Uddin said.

He said the discussion had centred on the legal and procedural aspects of the poll, including timelines for nominations, scrutiny of papers, possible withdrawal of candidature, and the differing procedures depending on whether the contest is held with or without Parliament in session.

“We had a detailed discussion on the procedures. If the election is contested, one set of procedures will apply. If there is only a single candidate, the process will be different,” he said, adding that separate provisions exist depending on whether Parliament is sitting.

The CEC stressed that no date had yet been fixed. 

“This was an initial discussion. We have not fixed any tentative date yet. You will know everything at the appropriate time,” he said, noting that as CEC he would serve as Returning Officer for the election.

Asked whether the Acting Speaker had sought assurances on the Commission’s readiness, Nasir Uddin said the EC had confirmed it was prepared to hold the election at any time, despite being simultaneously engaged in preparations for local government polls.  He added that a letter had already been sent seeking the list of MPs, after which the process would move swiftly.

The election was triggered by the resignation of President Mohammed Shahabuddin on 24 July on health grounds. 

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad has since assumed charge as acting President, with Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal performing the speaker’s duties in the interim. Under the constitution, the presidential election must be completed within 90 days of the resignation – by 22 October. 

The President is elected by secret ballot among the 349 MPs of the 13th Parliament, with voting to be held in the parliament chamber itself, even though nomination and scrutiny formalities will take place at the CEC’s office.