Ahead of the party's sixth national council, the BNP yesterday announced the schedule for elections to its top two posts -- chairperson and senior vice-chairman.

Jamiruddin Sircar, a standing committee member of the party and also election commissioner, announced the schedule at a press conference at the BNP's Nayapaltan central office.

He said the elections would be held on the day of the party's national council on March 19. The aspirants would have to collect nomination papers on March 2 from the party's Nayapaltan office and submit it there on March 4.

The nominations would be scrutinised on March 5 and aspirants could withdraw those by March 6, said Sircar.

Party insiders told The Daily Star that there would be no one in the party to submit nominations for the posts of chairperson and senior vice-chairman and that Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman would eventually win their respective posts unchallenged.

In a standing committee meeting on February 10, the party brought a change in its charter. Keeping a provision for holding election to the post of senior vice-chairman along with the one for chairperson, the meeting suggested forming an election commission for holding the polls.

One has to be at least 30 years of age to run for the election and that he or she has to pay membership fees regularly.

Since 1984, Khaleda Zia has been playing the role of chairperson of the party. Tarique Rahman was made senior vice-chairman during the last national council in 2009.

According to the party constitution, members of the national council would elect the chairperson for three years through direct voting.

In the press conference, Sircar said there was no possibility of extending the date of the council. Elections for other posts would be held on that day as well.

Elections to 351 posts for the national executive committee would be held on that day.

Party leaders said Tarique, who is now in London, would collect and submit his nomination papers through a party leader or a nominated agent.