Oli Ahmed’s nomination valid for presidential election

The Election Commission (EC) has declared the nomination of former army officer and 11-party alliance candidate Col. (retd) Oli Ahmed valid for the country’s 23rd presidential election, scheduled for August 20.

The nomination was cleared after scrutiny at the Election Commission building in the capital's Agargaon on Sunday morning (August 16).

Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin, serving as the election officer, conducted the scrutiny in the presence of leaders of the 11-party alliance.

Two nomination papers had been submitted in Oli Ahmed’s name. As one was found valid, the other was automatically rejected.

The EC is scheduled to scrutinise the nomination paper of BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at noon Sunday. Three nomination papers were submitted for the election—one for Fakhrul and two for Oli Ahmed.

Under the election schedule, the deadline for withdrawal of candidacy is 4pm on August 18. If more than one candidate remains after the withdrawal deadline, voting will be held on August 20 in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

The president will be elected by members of parliament. A total of 349 MPs are eligible to vote in the election.

Oli Ahmed’s nomination being declared valid has effectively confirmed the 11-party alliance’s candidate in the presidential race, with attention now turning to the EC’s decision on Fakhrul’s nomination.