We want Mirza Fakhrul to be elected President: Chief Whip

Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni has said, "Our party BNP has given the nomination. Our Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been nominated from the party alliance. We want him to be elected as president on August 20, Insha'Allah."

He made the remarks while speaking to journalists after submitting nomination papers at the Election Office on Thursday, August 13.

The Chief Whip said the proposer for Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir's nomination papers was BNP Standing Committee member Dr Moeen Khan, and the seconder was Standing Committee member Goneshwar Chandra Roy.

He said the presidential election will be held at the Parliament building. The Chief Election Commissioner will serve as the Returning Officer for the election. MPs will elect the president through voting.

Nurul Islam Moni said Colonel Oli Ahmed of the 11-party alliance has also received nomination for the presidency, and nomination papers have been filed on his behalf as well. As a result, the presidential election on August 20 will be contested.

On the implementation of the July Charter, the Chief Whip said the Prime Minister has announced that the July Charter will be implemented in letter and spirit. "We will not rewrite the Constitution. Even if we change a comma in the Constitution, it will be part of constitutional amendment or reform. An initiative will be taken to amend the Constitution by taking opinions from all parties to create a long-term Constitution for future generations."

When asked who would become BNP's Secretary General if Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is elected president, the Chief Whip declined to comment, saying, "We have no other decision to announce at this moment. We are proceeding according to the rules of the election. Let the opposition answer their own statements. I do not wish to criticise their remarks."

He said, "One must clearly understand the difference between 'reform' and 'amendment.' India adopted its Constitution in 1950. By 2026, the country had amended it 106 times. They did not rewrite the Constitution. Neither will we. Even changing a comma in the Constitution would be a constitutional amendment. If we change every word, that too would fall under amendment."