Shahabuddin next president

GBNEWS24DESK//

Md Shahabuddin, a retired district judge and a former commissioner of Anti-Corruption Commission, is set to become the next president unopposed, putting an end to weeks of intense speculation over the post of the head of the state.

The ruling Awami League yesterday submitted the papers nominating Shahabuddin, also a freedom fighter and a member of AL Advisory Council.

As no other political parties with representation in parliament fielded any candidate, the Election Commission will announce Shahabuddin as the president-elect after scrutinising the nomination papers today.

The development came as a surprise as his name did not surface until the filing of the nomination. Even many top leaders and the rank and file of the party seemed to have been caught off-guard after his name was announced.

“Nobody knew who will be the president even 10 minutes before [the nomination submission]. There were many speculations and even my name was also discussed,” said AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader while speaking at a programme yesterday afternoon.

“Bangabandhu’s daughter gave us a real surprise.”

An AL delegation, led by Obaidul Quader, submitted the nomination papers to the Election Commission.

Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, then disclosed to the media that AL President and AL Parliamentary Party Chairman Sheikh Hasina had picked Shahabuddin as the presidential candidate.

The parliamentary party on February 7 gave Hasina the sole power to finalise the nomination.

In the run-up to the nomination submission, names of many Awami League leaders, several former chief justices and bureaucrats came into discussion.

“It was beyond our imagination that Shahabuddin would be chosen,” said a top AL leader.

Shahabuddin, who was in the AL delegation, said he had no immediate reaction. “Everything was done in line with Almighty Allah’s will,” he said.

The presence of a presidential candidate at the EC during submission of nomination is rare, according to EC officials.

Quader proposed the name on the papers, which was seconded by Information Minister Hasan Mahmud, a lawmaker from Chattogram 7, they said.

Meanwhile, greetings poured in for Shahabuddin from people of all walks of life, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself.

Nicknamed Chuppu, Shahabuddin is also the vice chairman of Islami Bank Bangladesh board of directors.