Nomination papers must be submitted between 10am and 4pm on Thursday to run in the presidential election slated for August 20.

The ruling BNP has formally not declared its presidential candidate yet, while the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance has named LDP Chairman Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed as its candidate.

However, both the ruling and opposition camps have collected nomination papers for their respective aspirants.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, who is serving as the returning officer of the presidential election, has already convened a meeting of the Members of Parliament (MPs) at the session chamber of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on August 20 for voting in the presidential election in line with the Presidential Election Act, 1991.

According to the election schedule announced by the Election Commission on August 06 last, the nomination papers will be scrutinized on August 16 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is August 18.

Voting will take place from 2:00pm to 5:00pm on August 20 in the session chamber of the Jatiya Sangsad. A total of 349 MPs are voters in the presidential election. Now a parliamentary seat, Chattogram-4 constituency, remains vacant.

This will be the first presidential election in 35 years, which is going to involve more than one candidate. So, the voting is set to be held in the Presidential election after 1991.

The name of Local Government and Rural Development Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has already surfaced in the media as the BNP’s probable presidential candidate, but people are likely to wait till Thursday to formally know its candidate.

On July 24 last, Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned as President and Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad took charge as the acting president.

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.