The BNP on Saturday entrusted party Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman with the authority to finalize the party's candidate for the upcoming presidential election.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the party's National Standing Committee held at the BNP chairman's Gulshan office in the evening.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the Standing Committee authorized Tarique Rahman to make all decisions regarding the party's presidential nominee and the election process.
"On behalf of the party, we have entrusted all responsibilities relating to the selection of the presidential candidate and the election to our Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman," Fakhrul said.
He said the Standing Committee also discussed the government's development activities, the upcoming local government elections, and organizational matters.
The meeting, which began at 8pm, was chaired by Tarique Rahman.
Fakhrul and BNP Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Selima Rahman, Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku, and Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain were present at the meeting.
Speaking after the meeting, Salahuddin said the Election Commission is legally required to hold the presidential election within 90 days and has already indicated its readiness to conduct the polls.
"Once the Election Commission announces the election schedule, our party chairman will finalize the candidate. The Standing Committee has entrusted him with that responsibility," he said.
Asked whether the party discussed any specific names for the presidency, Salahuddin replied, "No, no names were discussed."
On July 24 last, Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned as president, and Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad took charge as the acting president.
According to Article 123(2) of the Constitution, an election to fill the vacant office of the president must be held within 90 days of the post becoming vacant due to resignation.
The president shall be elected by members of Parliament for a five-year term. A person shall not be qualified for election as president if he (a) is less than thirty-five years of age; or (b) is not qualified for election as a member of Parliament; or (c) has been removed from the office of president by impeachment under this Constitution.