EC sets in motion process of electing new President

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury likely successor of President Abdul Hamid.

Jehangir Hussain

The process of electing a successor of President Md Abdul Hamid has been started by the Election Commission (EC), EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam told reporters on Sunday.

A new President would be elected within February 23, he said.

“The process of presidential polls has already been started. We will contact the Parliament Secretariat and fix the date for the Chief Election Commissioner’s meeting with the Speaker soon,” he said.

He said that there was a compulsion to hold the presidential polls 60 to 90 days before the completion of the tenure of the incumbent President.

As the election must have to be held by February 23, the EC Secretariat already took the preparations for it, he said.

As President Hamid’s second consecutive term expires on April 24, a new President must be elected by February 23.

The Constitution of the Republic does not allow him to be elected for a 3rd term.

He’s the only person to complete two consecutive terms as President.  

On April 24, 2013, Abdul Hamid was sworn in as the country’s 20th President.

On the expiry of his first term, Hamid took oath on April 24, 2018, for his 2nd term as President.

MPs elect the President of the Republic, in the election to be held in the House to be conducted by the Chief Election Commissioner.

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