The Election Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, has sat in a meeting with acting Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal on Tuesday morning ahead of the announcement of the schedule for the presidential election.
The meeting began at 11:00 am at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, UNB reports.
Election Commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Tahmida Ahmad and Md Anwarul Islam Sarker, along with EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, also attended the meeting.
Under the Presidential Election Act, 1991, the Election Commission is required to consult the Speaker before announcing the schedule for the presidential election.
If Parliament is in session, the Commission must issue the election notification at least seven days before the polling date.
If Parliament is not in session, the Commission, in consultation with the Speaker, must convene a meeting of Members of Parliament at least seven days before the election.
As part of the process, the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat will send the list of MPs to the EC, which will prepare and publish the electoral roll for the presidential election before announcing the schedule.
According to Article 123(2) of the Constitution, an election to fill the vacant office of the President must be held within 90 days of the post becoming vacant due to resignation.
Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin will act as the Returning Officer for the presidential election, which will be decided by the votes of Members of Parliament.
Under the Presidential Election Act, a candidate's nomination paper must be proposed by one MP and seconded by another.
The candidate securing the highest number of votes will be declared elected by the CEC. In the event of a tie, the result will be decided by a lottery, and the CEC's declaration of the result will be final.
On July 24, Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned as president, and Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad assumed the role of acting president.