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Presidential polls in JS on Feb 16

Staff Correspondent
The presidential election will be held on February 16, the Election Commission (EC) announced yesterday.
It also announced schedule of the long due election to the country's top post following confirmation of the polling date by speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad.
Lawmakers constitute the electorate for the presidential polls to be held in parliament from 2:00pm to 5:00pm.
Earlier, the EC had sent a proposal to Speaker Abdul Hamid for holding the election on February 18.
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 9:00 am to 4:00pm on February 8. Scrutiny of those will be held at 10:00 am on February 9.
The last date for withdrawal of candidacy is February 11 till 4:00pm.
The EC has prepared electoral roll for the election with 294 legislators of the ninth parliament on the list, as byelection to six seats vacated by the chiefs of AL, BNP and Jatiya Party were yet to be held.
If everything goes smoothly, veteran politician and Deputy Leader of the House Zillur Rahman is going to be elected president uncontested on ruling Awami League nomination as the main opposition BNP will not nominate ay contender.
Officials in the EC Secretariat said if there is only one candidate for the post, Zillur Rahman will be declared elected on expiry of the time
limit for withdrawal of candidacy - - 4:00pm on February 11.
On February 12, the EC Secretariat will publish the election results in the gazette, clearing the way for Zillur to take oath as new president.
This will end the controversial tenure of incumbent President lajuddin Ahmed.
Since the restoration of parliamentary democracy in 1991, only the presidential election held in that year was contested as the then opposition AL had its nominee in the election.
And the presidential elections held in 1996, 2001 and 2001 were uncontested.
Meanwhile, lajuddin's tenure as present expired on September 5, 2007 but a new president could not be elected as there was no parliament. So, he continued to hold the office.
As per constitutional provision, a new president is going to be elected within 30 days of first sitting of the 9th parliament held on January 25.
After the independence of Bangladesh, the first presidential election was held on April 8, 1973, the second on June 3, 1978, the third on November 15,1981, fourth on October 15, 1986, fifth on October 8, 1991, sixth on August 22. 1996. seventh on November 14, 2001 and the eighth on September 16,2002.