‘Hamid guide through transition’

Leaders of Awami League hope Speaker Abdul Hamid, who the party nominated to become the 20th President, will rightly guide the country through a period of transition when Bangladesh will go to general elections due by early next year.

On Sunday, after the Awami League Parliamentary Party meeting declared Hamid’s nomination, Whip ASM Firoz and three other leaders of the party collected four nomination papers from the Election Commission.

Later, an eight-strong delegation of the ruling party, led by senior leader Tofail Ahmed, submitted three nomination forms to Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad in the afternoon after Hamid signed them at his office at the Jatiya Sangsad in front of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Tofail told reporters, “Abdul Hamid is competent’ and acceptable to all. Various political parties and quarters have also heeded him with respect.”

“He is skilled. And he never compromised in matters of ethics. He is a dedicated politician,” he added.

Tofail also remembered Hamid’s contributions during several ‘transitions’ the nation went through as a Deputy Speaker, two-time Speaker and the Deputy Leader of Parliament.

Earlier, Whip ASM Feroz told reporters, “We have chosen a person to become the President who is a great politician and is accepted by everyone. He will take the country in the right direction once he is elected President. We ask the people to pray for him.”

Tofail said the proposal to nominate Abdul Hamid was made on Apr 19 during an Awami League Parliamentary Party meeting. The committee headed by Hasina unanimously finalised his candidacy on Sunday.

“The Acting President agreed after the Prime Minister informed of him of the decision,” he added.

Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam and Advisory Council member Tofail Ahmed were the proposer and supporter of Hamid, respectively, in one of the three nomination forms.

Chief Whip Abdus Shahid and ASM Feroz submitted the two other forms as proposers with Abdul Matin Khosru and Shegufta Yasmin Emily mentioned as supporters.

Speaker Abdul Hamid has been discharging the duties of the President since his predecessor Md Zillur Rahman was taken to Singapore on Apr 11 for treatment. He became the Acting President after Zillur Rahman died there on Mar 20.

CEC Kazi Rakibuddin announced the schedule for the presidential polls on Apr 9. Nominees were allowed to obtain nomination papers on Sunday.

Monday is the last date for scrutinising the nomination papers. The last date of withdrawal is Wednesday.

Hamid’s uncontested election to presidency is now only a matter of time since no other candidate is in the fray.

The election is scheduled to take place in Parliament on Apr 29 from 3:00pm-6:00pm.

However, Rakibuddin Ahmed said a formal declaration will come after screening of the nomination papers.

Tofail Ahmed told reporters that the Speaker’s post and his parliamentary seat will become vacant once Hamid is sworn in as President.

“We will have seven days after that. The party will discuss these matters then.”

The senior party leader said the BNP being the largest party in opposition could have participated in the election process if it had come to Parliament.