Hamid likely to be elected for 2nd term

President Abdul Hamid is likely to be re-elected for a second term as the Awami League is set to nominate him as its candidate in the upcoming presidential election, say sources in the ruling party.

The Jatiya Sangsad will elect the next president within a month as Hamid's tenure is nearing an end.

According to article 123 of the constitution, presidential election has to be held between 90 and 60 days before the expiry of the president's five-year term.

Talking to The Daily Star last night, Law Minister Anisul Huq said he learnt from the Election Commission that the presidential election will be held on February 19.

As the tenure of Hamid, who took office on April 24, 2013, will expire on April 23 this year, election of the next president has become the main topic of discussion in the ruling party.

A number of AL leaders told this correspondent that the existing president would get a second term as the prime minister has already made up her mind about it.

But none of the leaders agreed to be quoted.

The presidential election is deemed crucial as the next parliamentary polls will be held at the end of this year. The next president will be elected for a five-year term which will continue till the last year of the next government.

Before taking oath as president, Hamid was elected lawmaker for seven times and also served as speaker twice.

He also became the acting president on March 14, 2013, after the then president Zillur Rahman was admitted to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore on March 10. Zillur breathed his last at the hospital on March 20.