The 23rd presidential election is being held on Thursday, with the Election Commission (EC) completing all preparations for the vote.
The EC has finalized a voter list of 349 members of parliament, which includes BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. As an elected MP, Fakhrul can vote in the presidential election, including for himself.
However, Oli Ahmad, the candidate of the 11-party alliance led by Jamaat, cannot vote as he is not a member of parliament.
Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud told Bangla Tribune that Fakhrul would be able to vote because he is an MP, while Oli Ahmad would not be able to cast a ballot because he is not on the voter list.
"If Oli Ahmad were a member of parliament, he could vote. Similarly, if Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir were not an MP, he would not be able to vote," the election commissioner said.
Masud also said Fakhrul's membership in parliament would automatically cease if he were elected president. After taking the oath of office, he would no longer be an MP and would consequently lose his right to vote in parliament.
Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, who is also the election officer for the presidential election, said on Wednesday afternoon that 349 MPs are eligible to vote.
"According to our announced schedule, voting will be held on the 20th from 2pm to 5pm. The acting president, prime minister, speaker, leader of the opposition and all MPs are voters. Overall, it is a very high-profile election," he said.
The CEC said the commission expected to conduct the election "beautifully, smoothly and efficiently".
"We have made all necessary preparations. All conceivable aspects of the election have been taken into consideration," he said.
On the transparency of the vote count, Nasir Uddin said MPs would be allowed to remain in the polling venue during counting.
"During the vote counting, our members of parliament, since they are voters, will be able to be present. They do not have to leave after casting their votes. If they want, they can remain in the hall during the counting. It is a very transparent method, so no one should have any objection," he said.
Who can vote in the presidential election?
The president is elected by the members of parliament, who serve as the voters in the election.
According to EC officials, there are currently 349 MPs in parliament, and their names have been included in the presidential election voter list. One seat remains without a voter following the disqualification of an elected candidate by a court order.
Of the general seats, BNP has 211 MPs, Jamaat 68, the National Citizen Party (NCP) six, other parties seven and independents seven.
In the reserved seats, BNP and its allies have 36 MPs, the Jamaat-led alliance has 13 and there is one independent MP.
As a result, BNP and its allies hold a majority in the electoral college.
Presidential election schedule
The EC announced the schedule for the 23rd presidential election on August 6.
According to the schedule, candidates submitted their nomination papers to the office of the CEC or the election officer between 10am and 4pm on August 13.
CEC AMM Nasir Uddin scrutinized the nomination papers from 10am on August 16.
Following the scrutiny, the EC declared the nomination of BNP candidate and party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir valid.
On the same day, the commission also declared valid the nomination of Oli Ahmad, the candidate of the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance and chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).