AL abuzz with names for country’s next president

The most discussed question within the ruling Awami League at the moment is -- who will be the 22nd president of Bangladesh?

This is because a general election is slated for January next year, and the AL rank and file believe someone trustworthy should be holding the president's office during that crucial period.

Though the post of the president is mostly ceremonial -- they are to act as per the advice of the prime minister, except when appointing the premier and the chief justice -- it takes on some significance during polls-time given his say in issuing directives to help the Election Commission function effectively.

According to section 5 (2) of the Representation of the People's Order, 1972, all executive authorities of the government shall assist the EC in the performance of its functions, and for this purpose, the president may, after consultation with the commission, issue such directions as they may deem necessary.

As of now, there has been no indication from the AL high command about who might succeed Abdul Hamid. Party President Sheikh Hasina is yet to discuss the issue with her colleagues.

This is why several names have come up in the discussions among the AL leaders, activists and beyond. That the matter will have to be settled during the current session of parliament, set to conclude on February 9, only accelerated the discussion.

An AL candidate will be elected as Hamid's successor, as the party holds the absolute majority in parliament, whose members elect the president.

Out of 350 parliamentary seats, the AL currently has 302, while main opposition Jatiya Party has 26. The Workers Party has four seats; Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh and Gono Forum have two each; Bangladesh Tarikat Federation and Jatiya Party (Manju) have a single seat each; and three remaining seats are occupied by independents.

There were seven MPs from the BNP, but they have recently resigned from the Sangsad. 

The tenure of Hamid, the longest serving president of the country, will expire on April 23, and according to the constitution, there is no scope for his re-election.

Article 50 (2) of the constitution reads that no person shall hold office as president for more than two terms, whether or not the terms are consecutive.

Hamid was appointed acting president of Bangladesh on March 14, 2013, while then president Zillur Rahman was in hospital in Singapore.

Zillur died six days later.

Hamid was then elected unopposed as president on April 22, 2013, and was sworn into office two days later. On February 7,  2018, he was re-elected unopposed for a second term.

Meanwhile, six names are being discussed among the party leaders and activists.

Sources said there are high possibilities of Mashiur Rahman, an advisory council member of the party, becoming the next president.

Mashiur, also the PM's economic affairs advisor, who was always active in public events, hasn't been seen much lately. He also has refrained from making any public comments, AL insiders said.

He was vocal against World Bank's allegations of corruption in the process of building the Padma bridge, after the bank backtracked on its $1.2 billion money-lending deal for the bridge's construction.

The allegations were later rejected by a Canadian court.

Mashiur even went on a month-long leave as it was one of the WB conditions for reviving the loan during the probe into the graft allegations.

Hailing from Khulna, Mashiur was a former bureaucrat and was assistant private secretary to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from 1972 to 1975.

The name of Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury is also being discussed.

Shirin, an MP from Rangpur-6, became the youngest Speaker of the House and has been serving since April 2013.

She started her career as a lawyer of the Supreme Court and also served as the state minister of the women and children's affairs ministry.

Besides them, the name of ABM Khairul Haque, who was the 19th chief justice and is currently the law commission chairman, is being discussed as a presidential candidate.

Khairul came into the limelight after delivering the verdict that declared the 13th amendment illegal and unconstitutional.  The amendment had enabled the caretaker government system.

His verdict on the fifth amendment declared the regime of Khondoker Mostaque Ahmed, Justice Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem and Major General Ziaur Rahman unconstitutional.

As a judge of the High Court, Khairul also confirmed the death penalties of 15 in the murder of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq is also being discussed as a probable candidate for presidency.

He is currently the president of Gazipur AL and has been leading the district unit for 38 years now.

Another name that has come up is that of engineer Mosharraf Hossain.

The number one presidium member of the AL and the MP from Chittagong-1, Mosharraf was earlier the minister for civil aviation and tourism, and for public works and housing.

The name of Obaidul Quader, who was elected AL general secretary for third consecutive time, is in the mix.

The road, transport and bridges minister and Noakhali-5 MP was also talked about before the AL's council on December 24.

After the party reshuffled the serial of joint secretaries, putting Hasan Mahmud on the top, Quader's possibility of becoming the next president of the country came into discussion.

The reshuffle has a significance because a provision in the AL charter says in absence of the general secretary, the responsibilities shall be vested onto the joint general secretary.

However, Quader himself recently said he was not qualified to hold the office of the president.

Asked, Law Minister Anisul Huq on Wednesday said the people will soon learn who will be the country's next president.

"Ahead of such elections, many names come to the fore and many kinds of speculations are made. As per the constitution, the election [of the next president] will be held within 60-90 days before the current president's five-year term ends," he told reporters at the Secretariat.