Photo: Video Screenshot

DHAKA, Aug 1, 2026 (BSS) - BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said the party's national standing committee entrusted its Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman with the responsibility to nominate the party's candidate for the presidential election.

"The Standing Committee has entrusted the Prime Minister and BNP Chairman to take the necessary decisions regarding the presidential election and select the party's nominee," he said.

The veteran BNP leader came up with the development tonight after a meeting of the party's National Standing Committee at the BNP Chairperson's political office in Gulshan.

The meeting, chaired by BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, began at 8 pm and concluded at 9:30 pm.

He said the meeting held extensive discussions on the country's overall political situation, as well as local government elections and matters related to the party.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Standing Committee Member and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said, "The Speaker is currently serving as Acting President and, under the law, the presidential election must be completed within 90 days."

"The Election Commission had already informed that it is prepared to conduct the presidential election. Once the election schedule is announced, the party chairman and Prime Minister will determine the BNP's candidate for the presidency," he added.

Replying to a question, Salahuddin reassured that the responsibility for proposing the name of the new presidential candidate and taking the related decision had been vested in the party chairman. 

Regarding local government polls, Salahuddin said, "We are prepared to hold local government elections by the end of this year or early next year. Preparations are underway accordingly."

BNP standing committee members Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Dr Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Babu Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan, Salahuddin Ahmed, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Begum Selima Rahman, AZM. Zahid Hossain were present at the meeting.