Staff Reporter:
Jatiya Sangsad Chief Whip Nurul Islam has said Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal, now serving as acting speaker, will administer the oath to the newly elected president.
“Since the 15th amendment to the constitution, the speaker, instead of the chief justice, administers the oath to the president. As the deputy speaker is currently performing the duties of the speaker, he will administer the oath to the newly elected president. The acting president will not administer the oath,” he said.
Nurul Islam also said the acting president, being a member of parliament, has the right to vote in the election.
The chief whip made the remarks in response to questions from journalists at a press briefing held at the media centre of the Jatiya Sangsad on Thursday afternoon.
He said there is no justification for the opposition’s complaints about the presidential election, as the election is being held in accordance with the constitution.
Responding to the opposition’s complaints over the implementation of the July Charter and Article 70 of the constitution, Nurul said, “We are currently running the country in accordance with the constitution. The opposition may make complaints, which is normal for them.
“But the announcement of the election schedule, preparation of the voter list, activities of the Election Commission and the voting process—all are being conducted in accordance with the existing constitution. Until this constitution is changed, we have to proceed in this manner.”
He said, “The chief election commissioner is serving as the returning officer for this election. Immediately after voting ends at 5pm, the result will be announced in the presence of everyone, and a gazette notification will be issued at night.”
Asked whether BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir would have to resign from his post as local government minister or from his parliamentary seat in Thakurgaon-1 before taking oath as president, the chief whip said he would not have to resign. Both posts would automatically become vacant as soon as he takes the oath as president.
Regarding BNP lawmaker Mirza Abbas, he said, “He is ill. He has informed the prime minister that he will not be able to attend due to his illness.”
He said whether the expelled Jamaat-e-Islami lawmakers would cast their votes was a matter of their party’s own decision.
