The Jatiya Sangsad would elect the country's 21st president on Feb 18, said chief election commissioner KM Nurul Huda on Thursday (Jan 25). Huda announced the election schedule at the Election Commission. As per the schedule, nomination papers would be submitted on Feb 5, scrutiny of nomination papers would be held on Feb 7 and last date for withdrawal of nomination is Feb 10, local media reports said.
The tenure of the incumbent president Md Abdul Hamid expires on Apr 23. Since the constitution stipulated that the president must be elected by the members of parliament, a voting would take place during the ongoing 19th session. According to the parliament secretariat, the running session will continue until Feb 28.
The Article 123 of the constitution says, "In the case of a vacancy in the office of President occurring by reason of the expiration of his term of office an election to fill the vacancy shall be held within the period of ninety to sixty days prior to the date of expiration of the term."
Emerging from a meeting with the speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury at her parliament office on Wednesday, the CEC had hinted that the 21st president election would take place between February 18 and 20.
On Monday, the law minister Anisul Huq said that the election would be held on Feb 19.
On Feb 24, 2013, Abdul Hamid, former speaker of the house and ruling Bangladesh Awami League leader, took over as the country's 20th president after he was elected uncontested.
