Differences in BNP over candidate for presidency

Differences have surfaced in the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) over nominations to some vital posts, including the president.

Sources said the BNP hardliners, after their success in removing Professor A.Q.M. Badruddoza Chowdhury from presidency nearly two months ago, have become even more active in getting their own men to the offices of president, speaker, deputy leader of the parliament and the home minister.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has so far received conflicting suggestions from her senior cabinet colleagues with whom she held a series of meetings recently.

The BNP insiders said the leaders, who want to see their own men installed on the posts, have brought allegations, some false, against the people chosen by their rivals.

It is almost certain that Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar, now the acting president, would be nominated for the next presidency, but some senior leaders brought allegations against him.

Moreover, the leaders have suggested that Sircar be removed from the position of speaker as they think he cannot run the parliament well.

The prime minister is learnt to have almost finalised her decision after consultation with the party's policy-makers on nominating Sircar for presidency and electing Aminul Haq, Telecommunications Minister, as speaker, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Local Government's Minister as deputy leader of the house and M.K. Anwar, Industries Minister as home minister.

But the hardliners opposed the move to appoint Bhuiyan as deputy leader and the number of claimants to the position climbed to more than five, including Finance Minister M. Saifur Rahman, the insiders said.

As a result, the prime minister had to drop the move to appoint a deputy leader at the moment.
Another move to replace Home Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury also stalled as the planned reshuffle of the cabinet did not take place for reasons unknown.

Election to a new president is due on September 16 and the BNP-led ruling coalition having a two-thirds majority in the parliament will win the elections.

The main opposition Awami League has announced to boycott the presidential polls.