BNP yet to announce candidate

The ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is yet to pick its presidential runner although the deadline for submission for nomination papers ends tomorrow.

The post of president has remained vacant since Prof. A.Q.M. Badruddoza Chowdhury was forced out of office on June 21. The presidential election is slated for September 16.

Ruling party sources said Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has had a series of talks with her senior party and cabinet colleagues to select the right person to run for presidency, but to no avail.

However, she will convene a meeting of the BNP's highest decision-making body, the National Standing Committee, in a day or two to finalise the nomination, the sources added.

The BNP policymakers have expressed ignorance about the possible choice.

Party insiders said some senior BNP leaders, both in and outside the cabinet, have started hectic lobbying to get a nomination for the race to become the constitutional figurehead.

They said Land Minister M. Shamsul Islam, Textile Minister Abdul Matin Chowdhury, Standing Committee member, Tanveer Ahmed Siddique, and Syed Shahidul Haq Jamal, MP, have all expressed their desire to become the titular head of the country.

A section of BNP leaders has also proposed former Dhaka University vice-chancellor, Prof. M Maniruzzaman Miah, for the presidency.

However, sources said Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar, who is now the acting president, is in with a chance to succeed Prof. Chowdhury.