Dhaka, Aug 11 (V7N)- A preparatory meeting has begun at the National Assembly building ahead of the country's 23rd presidential election. The meeting started at 11am on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Acting Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal.

Meanwhile, the ruling BNP has already collected two nomination papers for the presidential election. The forms were collected from the office of the Returning Officer of the Election Commission (EC) in Agargaon on Sunday (August 9).

Several senior BNP leaders are reportedly being considered for the presidential post. Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is among the names receiving strong attention.

The names of Standing Committee members Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Dr Moin Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan and Gayeshwar Chandra Roy are also being discussed.

In addition, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and BNP Vice Chairman and former Home Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury have emerged as possible candidates. However, a section of BNP leaders believes the president should be chosen from the party's political leadership.

Oli Ahmed nominated by Jamaat-led alliance

Meanwhile, Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), has been nominated as the presidential candidate of the 11-party alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

A delegation of the alliance visited the EC office in Agargaon on Monday (August 10) to collect nomination papers from the Returning Officer.

Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad later told reporters that the alliance's decision was not about winning or losing, but about strengthening the democratic process.

He said the 11-party alliance had nominated a candidate to help restore a healthy practice of democratic principles in the presidential election.

Presidential election schedule

The EC announced the schedule for the presidential election on August 6.

According to the schedule, nomination papers can be submitted until August 13. The nomination papers will be scrutinized on August 16, while the deadline for withdrawal of candidacies is August 18 at 4pm.

If voting is required, it will be held in the Parliament session room of the National Assembly from 2pm to 5pm on August 20.

The country's 22nd President Md Shahabuddin resigned from office on July 24. Following his resignation, the EC began preparations for the 23rd presidential election. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin has also held a meeting with the Speaker as part of the constitutional process.

END/SMA/AJ