Bangladesh prime minister to select party’s presidential candidate

Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders have authorized Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to select the party’s nominee for the presidential election, party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Saturday.

“The Standing Committee has entrusted the Prime Minister and BNP Chairman to take the necessary decisions regarding the presidential election and select the party’s nominee,” Fakhrul told reporters after a meeting in Dhaka.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s national standing committee met for 90 minutes at the party chairperson’s political office in Gulshan.

Home minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the speaker is serving as acting president and that the election must be completed within 90 days. He said the Election Commission is prepared to conduct the vote and Rahman will name the nominee after the schedule is announced.

Party leaders also discussed Bangladesh’s political situation, local government elections and internal party matters.