Desk News: Mohammed Shahabuddin, the ruling Awami League’s nominee, is all set to become the 22nd president of Bangladesh as no other political party nominated any candidate for the presidential post.
According to the Election Commission (EC), Shahabuddin is the sole candidate running for president of Bangladesh.
If there is one candidate for the presidency, the election will not require a meeting or voting in parliament.
According to the election schedule, today (Sunday) was the last date for submitting nomination paper, tomorrow (Monday) has been set for scrutiny and the last time of withdrawing the candidature is fixed at 4pm on Tuesday.
While briefing journalists at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city’s Agargaon area on Sunday, EC Secretary Jahangir Alam said the Election Commission (EC) will announce the name of the country’s new President after the expiry of the time for withdrawal of the candidature on Tuesday following the scrutiny of the nomination papers on Monday.
He said AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader submitted one of the nomination papers as the proposer while AL Joint General Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud submitted the other as the proposer.
The ruling party submitted the two nomination papers as there is a provision that allow submission of maximum three nomination papers on behalf of one person, the EC secretary added.
Earlier, an AL delegation led by Obaidul Quader went to the EC and submitted the nomination papers. Later, they met Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal.
Later in the day, Awami League (AL) nominated presidential candidate Mohammad Shahabuddin Chuppu paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister and AL President Sheikh Hasina.
On his arrival at the Ganabhaban, Mohammad Shahbuddin Chuppu was greeted with a flower bouquet by the Prime Minister and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s younger daughter and PM’s younger sister Sheikh Rehana.
Earlier, Mohammad Shahabuddin expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for nominating him.
On January 25, the CEC announced the election schedule for the president post.
Awami League Parliamentary Party (ALPP) on February 7 entrusted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with selecting the party nominee for the presidency as the tenure of incumbent President Abdul Hamid will end on April 24 this year.
The President may hold office for five years from the date of assumption of office.
Shahbuddin Chuppu was born in 1949 in Pabna and is a lawyer by profession. He is a member of the party’s advisory council. He previously served as a district and sessions judge and a commissioner of Anti Corruption Commissioner (ACC).
He was the convener of Pabna district’s Swadhin Bangla Chhatra Sangram Parishad in 1971. He is also a freedom fighter. He joined the judicial service in 1982 and was elected as the general secretary of the Judicial Service Association in 1995.
Shahbuddin also served as the coordinator appointed by the law ministry in the case filed over the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Chuppu, as well, served as the chairman of the Judicial Inquiry Commission after the 2001 general elections to investigate the murders, rapes and looting and inhumane activities committed by the BNP-Jamaat alliance, Quader said.
The AL general secretary also said Chuppu was the Pabna District Chhatra League president during his student life and served as the president of Pabna District Jubo League in 1974.
He was imprisoned following the brutal assassination of the Father of the Nation in 1975. He was also the election commissioner in the last National Council of Bangladesh Awami League.
Shahbuddin is married to Professor Dr Rebecca Sultana, a former government official and the couple has one son.
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