Hamid to be President

Abdul Hamid has been picked up as the Awami League's nominee for the next presidential elections slated for Apr 29.

The ruling Awami League-led alliance’s three-fourth majority in Parliament means Hamid's election is all but guaranteed even if the polls are contested by the opposition.

The Awami League Parliamentary Party's nomination of Hamid as the party's contender on Sunday was confirmed by one of the Whips, ASM Feroz.

Hamid, 69, has been in charge as Acting President since Mar 27 after former President Md Zillur Rahman died on Mar 20 in Singapore.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called on Hamid at his parliamentary office after the meeting at around 2:00pm. She was accompanied by Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam and Chief Whip Abdus Shahid.

They were inside his office for about an hour where besides exchanging greetings, the Prime Minister signed the nomination paper for Abdul Hamid.

Later the nomination papers were filed at the Election Commission after 3:00pm.

Later an eight-strong delegation of Awami League headed by Awami League Presidium Member Tofail Ahmed handed over three nomination papers to CEC Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad at the Election Commission before 4:00pm.

One of the papers bore name of Syed Ashraful Islam as the proposer, and of Tofail Ahmed as a supporter.

The long-time aide of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was the Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad.

Hamid’s formal nomination comes as the ninth parliament reconvenes on Sunday for its 17th session.

In Bangladesh, the President is elected through an open voting by the Members of Parliament conducted by the Chief Election Commissioner.

Ever since parliamentary democracy was introduced in Bangladesh, the Members of Parliament have only once voted and elected the President in 1991, as there were several candidates running for the post.

But later, the trend changed and ruling party candidates are returned uncontested to the office.

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

Monday is the last date for scrutinising the nomination papers.

If no other candidate collects nomination papers until 4:00pm on Sunday, Hamid is all set to be elected President without any contest.

In case of multiple candidates, an election will take place in Parliament on Apr 29 from 3:00pm-6:00pm. Majority votes will decide the next President.

All of the living 349 members of Parliament can vote for the elections of which, 272 are from Awami League.

Election Commission secretariat will publish a gazette notification formally declaring the name the of new President.Later the new President will take oath from the Chief Justice at Bangabhaban.

The Election Commission said, since independence, 16 people have become the President of Bangladesh over 19 terms. Abdul Hamid will be the 20th President.

Hamid received Independence Award this year for his contribution to the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.

Son of late Hazi Mohammad Tayebuddin and late Tamiza Khatun, Hamid was born in Kamalpur village of Mithamoin Upazila in Kishoreganj on Jan 1, 1944.

He obtained IA and BA degrees from Gurudayal College and got his LLB from Central Law College under Dhaka University. He joined the Kishoreganj Bar and was the district Bar chief five times from 1990 to 1996.

He began his political career joining Chhatra League in 1959. He participated in the anti-Aiyub movement of 1961 (while in college). He was imprisoned many times.

He was elected General Secretary and Vice-President of Gurudayal College Chhatra Shangsad in 1963 and 1965 respectively.

He was the founding secretary of Kishoreganj sub-division Chhatra League in 1964 and Mymensingh Chhatra League Vice President in 1966-67. He joined Awami League in 1969.

Hamid was elected youngest member of Pakistan Jatiya Parishad from Mymensingh-18 constituency in 1970. Later, he joined the Liberation War.

He was elected Awami League MP in 1986, 1991, 2001 and 2008.

Including the current term, he was a Speaker of the House twice.

He is the father of three sons and a daughter.