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An 11-party alliance, spearheaded by the Jamaat-e-Islami, has put forward Liberal Democratic Party Chairman Oli Ahmed as its candidate for Bangladesh's 23rd presidential election. The nomination papers were officially submitted to Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, who serves as the returning officer.

Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman and National Citizen Party Joint Secretary General Abdullah Al Amin acted as proposer and seconder, respectively, for Ahmed's nomination. The alliance's decision to field a candidate challenges the traditional uncontested presidential elections in Bangladesh, which typically occur when the ruling party commands a parliamentary majority and fields a single candidate.

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Winning or losing is not the issue. What we do not want is an election without competition. That is the beauty of democracy.

Hamidur Rahman Azad, Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat, explained the alliance's motivation, stating their desire to establish a new democratic practice and prevent the election from being uncontested. "Winning or losing is not the issue. What we do not want is an election without competition. That is the beauty of democracy," Azad remarked.

Azad also criticized the BNP's decision to hold a high-level political meeting at the Secretariat, an executive office, deeming it unprecedented. The nomination period began today and will continue until 4:00 PM. Scrutiny of papers is scheduled for August 16, with withdrawals permitted until August 18. Voting is set to take place on August 20.

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The Secretariat is an executive office. Holding a top-level political meeting there, a meeting of the party's highest forum, has no precedent in our records.