Presidential Election: EC to meet Acting Speaker on Tuesday ahead of schedule announcement

The Election Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, will meet acting Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal on Tuesday morning ahead of the announcement of schedule for the presidential election.

“The Election Commission led by the Chief Election Commissioner will meet the acting Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad at 11am on July 28,” said Rashed Mizan, Assistant Director (Public Relations) of Parliament Secretariat on Monday.

Earlier, the EC Secretariat sent a letter to the Parliament Secretariat seeking an appointment with the Speaker.

In the letter signed by EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed and addressed to the Secretary of the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat, the Commission said Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned as the president from office on July 24.

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, it cited.

The letter also referred to Sections 5(2) and 5(3) of the Presidential Elections Act, 1991, which requires the Election Commission to hold discussions with the Speaker before announcing the presidential election schedule.

The EC requested the Speaker's office to arrange a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner at a convenient date and time fixed by the Speaker.

According to the letter, the Election Commissioners and the EC Senior Secretary will be present during the meeting.

In line with the Presidential Election Act, 1991, the Election Commission is going to consult the Speaker before issuing the election schedule.

If Parliament is in session, the Commission is required to 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.

Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal has been serving as the acting Speaker as the Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad took the charge as the acting President following the resignation of Mohammed Shahabuddin on Friday.

Article 54 of the Constitution provides that the Speaker shall discharge the functions of the President until a new President is elected. While the Speaker is acting as President, Article 74(3) provides that the Speaker's functions shall be performed by the Deputy Speaker.