Professor Iajuddin Ahmed has been elected unopposed as the new president of Bangladesh. The Election Commission (EC) yesterday declared Prof. Ahmed president as there was no other candidate for the presidential election which is scheduled to be held on September 16.

President-elect Prof. Iajuddin Ahmed will take the oath at Bangabhaban, the presidential palace, at 7.30pm today.

Chief Justice Mainur Reza Chowdhury will administer the oath to Prof. Ahmed, who will assume the office of president for a five-year term.

After scrutiny of nomination papers for the presidential election, Prof. Iajuddin Ahmed's papers were found valid while those submitted for Abdur Razzak and Ahmed Ali Chowdhury were cancelled as their candidatures were not proposed or seconded by any parliament member, said an Election Commission announcement.

Chief Election Commissioner, M.A. Syed, scrutinised the nomination papers. The ruling coalition nominated the former Dhaka University teacher last Tuesday.

The president's post was vacant following the forced resignation of Prof. A.Q.M. Badruddoza Chowdhury on June 21.