Published : 06 Aug 2026, 07:22 PM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:30 AM
The Election Commission (EC) has received the electoral roll for the presidential election, comprising members of the 13th Parliament, from the Secretariat.
On Thursday, EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said the commission had received the voter list and would discuss the matter at its meeting later in the day.
Former president Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned on Jul 24, citing serious illness.
Under the Constitution, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad has assumed the role of acting president until a new head of state is elected, while Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal is carrying out the speaker's duties.
The Constitution requires the presidential election to be held within 90 days of the office falling vacant, meaning the vote must take place by Oct 22.
The EC has already begun preparations.
In line with convention, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin held preliminary talks with acting Speaker Kayser on Jul 28 about the election.
The commission will now announce the election schedule under the Presidential Election Act, 1991.
Members of parliament will form the electoral college, while the CEC will serve as the returning officer.
The schedule will include deadlines for submitting nomination papers, scrutiny, withdrawal of candidature, as well as the date and venue of voting.
Nomination papers will be submitted to the CEC's office, while voting will take place in the parliament chamber.
Under the law, every candidate must have one proposer and one seconder, both members of parliament, while the candidate must also sign the nomination paper.
Since parliamentary democracy was restored in 1991, parliament has voted in a presidential election only once when more than one candidate contested.
Every president elected since has won unopposed after being nominated by the ruling party.
The ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has already held its policy-making meeting.
The commission is now likely to complete its formalities before announcing the election schedule.
