11-party alliance names Oli Ahmed as presidential candidate

The 11-party alliance named Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Colonel (retd.) Oli Ahmed as its candidate for the country's presidential election.

The announcement was made following a meeting of top alliance leaders at the official residence of the Leader of the Opposition here on Sunday afternoon (August 9).

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam, a key alliance partner, confirmed the decision to reporters after the meeting, saying the 11-party alliance had settled on the LDP chief as its nominee for the presidency.

The meeting was held earlier in the day under the chairmanship of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman, who deliberated with alliance leaders on finalising the presidential candidate alongside broader political understanding among the partners and the way forward.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, LDP chief and the alliance's nominated candidate Oli Ahmed, Opposition Chief Whip and NCP Convener Nahid Islam, and 11-party alliance coordinator Dr Hamidur Rahman Azad were among those present at the meeting, along with senior leaders of the constituent parties.

A decorated freedom fighter, Oli Ahmed was born in Chattogram. He was serving with the Pakistan Army's 8th East Bengal Regiment, stationed at Sholashahar in Chattogram, in 1971. He joined the Liberation War on the night of March 25 that year, and after the initial resistance regrouped in India, going on to fight under the regular Mukti Bahini's "Z Force." Following independence, he rose to the rank of colonel in the Bangladesh Army before retiring and entering politics.

He currently serves as President of the Liberal Democratic Party.