BNP Gives Green Light to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to Pick Presidential Hopeful

Dhaka – The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) took a decisive step on Saturday, empowering its prime minister and party chairman, Tarique Rahman, to name the BNP’s candidate for the soon‑to‑be‑held presidential election.

The decision emerged from a closed‑door session of the BNP’s National Standing Committee, convened at the party’s headquarters. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the BNP secretary‑general, told state‑run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha that the committee “has entrusted the Prime Minister and BNP Chairman to take the necessary decisions regarding the presidential election and select the party’s nominee.”

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad is now serving as acting president after Mohammed Shahabuddin stepped down on July 24. According to Article 123(2) of the constitution, a new presidential poll must be organized within ninety days of the vacancy – a deadline that is fast approaching.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, also speaking to BSS, said the Election Commission is already primed to run the poll once the schedule is announced. “When the election timetable is out, the party chairman and Prime Minister will determine the BNP’s candidate for the presidency,” he added.

Among the standing‑committee members present were Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Babu Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Begum Selima Rahman and AZM Zahid Hossain.

The move signals BNP’s intent to stay in the race despite recent political turbulence, and sets the stage for a contest that could reshape Bangladesh’s political landscape.