EC fully prepared to hold presidential election: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Tuesday said the Election Commission (EC) is fully prepared to conduct the presidential election.

“We are prepared to conduct the presidential election,” the CEC told reporters after a meeting with Acting Speaker Kayser Kamal at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

The Election Commission led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin sat in a meeting with the acting Speaker in the morning ahead of the announcement of schedule for the presidential election. 

The meeting began at 11am at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

Election commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Tahmida Ahmad and Md Anwarul Islam Sarker and EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed also joined the meeting.

As per the Presidential Election Act, 1991, the Election Commission needs to consult the Speaker before fixing the schedule for the presidential election.

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.

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.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin will act as the Returning Officer for the presidential election which will be held with direct votes of Members of Parliament.

As per the Presidential Election Act, a candidate's nomination paper must be proposed by one MP and seconded by another.

The candidate securing the highest number of votes will be declared elected by the CEC. In the event of a tie, the result will be determined by a lottery, and the CEC's declaration of the result will be final.