Zillur set to be elected Bangladesh President

DHAKA (APP) - Octogenarian Awami League (AL) leader Zillur Rahman is set to be declared elected the 19th President of Bangladesh on February 11, five days ahead of the presidential poll scheduled to be held on February 16. It is almost certain that Zillur will be the lone candidate for the highest job, said Election Commission (EC) officials Sunday. Nomination form for Zillur Rahman has been collected from Election Commission (EC) secretariat for contesting the country's presidential election. Chief Whip of the parliament Abdus Shahid collected the form from EC Additional Secretary Rafiqul Islam. The AL-led grand alliance has already proposed Zillur Rahman's name as its nominee for the country's president. Shahid went straight to Zillur Rahman's house in Gulshan with the form. After being filled in, it will be submitted to the Chief Election Commissioner, who is the returning officer for the presidential poll. The EC announced schedule of the long due election to the country's top post following confirmation of the polling date by speaker of the Bangladesh parliament. Lawmakers constitute the electorate for the presidential polls to be held in parliament from 2pm to 5pm. As per electoral laws, the EC had to consult the Speaker since the election will be held when parliament is in session and the House will be used as polling venue, if the election is contested. According to the polls schedule, nomination papers have to be submitted to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda, who is returning officer (RO) of the polls, from 9 am to 4pm on February 8. Scrutiny of those will be held at 10 am on February 9. The last date for withdrawal of candidacy is February 11 till 4pm.

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