The Jatiya Sangsad will elect the next president of Bangladesh on February 19 as the tenure of incumbent President Abdul Hamid nears an end.

“I came to know from the Election Commission that the presidential election will be held on February 19,” Law Minister Anisul Huq told The Daily Star tonight.  

Hamid took office on April 24, 2013, and his five-year term expires on April 23.

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

The next president will be elected for a five-year term, and the tenure of the president will be until the last year of the next government.

“We can hold the election in the current session [of the parliament] or another brief session can be called to hold the election,” Anisul Huq said.

The current session of the parliament began on January 7 and will continue until February 28.