New president to be elected in September parliamentary session: Law Minister

Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman has said the country's next president will be elected during the upcoming parliamentary session scheduled for September, indicating that there is no need to convene a special session solely for the presidential election.

He revealed the information while speaking at a human rights consultation meeting at the CIRDAP Auditorium in the capital on Saturday (July 25).

The minister said the constitutional process for electing a new president would be completed through the regular parliamentary session.

"There is no situation that warrants calling a special session of Parliament for the presidential election," he said.

Responding to a question about the possibility of legal action against former president Mohammed Shahabuddin, the law minister said it would be inappropriate to comment on the matter at this stage.

He also said the government would withdraw the cases filed against eight people injured during the July movement in Chattogram if investigations prove those cases to be false.

Highlighting the government's position on law and order, the minister claimed that incidents of extrajudicial killings are currently "at zero."

He further asserted that rape cases would not be withdrawn under any circumstances, regardless of the political influence or status of the accused.

Earlier, former President Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned on Friday (July 24), citing health reasons. His resignation was formally accepted by Speaker of the National Parliament Hafiz Uddin Ahmed (Bir Bikram) at 5:01pm on the same day.

In accordance with the Constitution, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed has assumed the role of Acting President following the acceptance of the resignation.

Mohammed Shahabuddin was sworn in as Bangladesh's 22nd President on April 24, 2023, for a five-year term that was scheduled to run until April 2028. However, he stepped down nearly two and a half years before completing his tenure.