Chief Whip of Parliament Nurul Islam Moni on Tuesday said members of parliament will not be able to vote in the presidential election, slated for August 20, against their party's decision as Article 70 of the Constitution remains unchanged.
“As Article 70 of the Constitution has not been amended, it will remain effective. No one will be able to vote beyond the party's decision. If anyone does so, their membership of Parliament will be cancelled,” he said at a press briefing at the Media Centre of Parliament after the 2026 presidential election preparatory meeting held at the Cabinet Room of Parliament.
Acting Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal chaired the preparatory meeting. Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam and Whips Md G K Gouse, Rakibul Islam Bakul, Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Apu, Md Akhtaruzzaman Mia and A B M Ashraf Uddin Nizan also attended the meeting.
Speaking at the meeting, Acting Speaker Kayser Kamal said the state structure must be freed from fascism in all spheres.
“The 2026 presidential election is going to be held at a historic moment in building a fascism-free Bangladesh,” he said
During the meeting, all necessary preparations, including the use of the Jatiya Sangsad chamber for holding the 2026 presidential election, all necessary logistical support and ensuring the attendance of Members of Parliament, were discussed.
The meeting also instructed completing all necessary preparations and providing logistical support for the election.
According to the election schedule announced by the Election Commission, the 2026 presidential election will be held in the Parliament chamber on Thursday, August 20.
The Chief Election Commissioner will conduct the election as the return officer in line with the Presidential Election Act, 1991.
EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, Parliament Secretary Golam Sorwar Bhuiyan and other senior officials concerned of the Parliament Secretariat were present at the meeting.
At the press conference, Chief Whip Nurul Islam said the BNP's candidate for the presidential election has not yet been finalised.
“The party has entrusted the Prime Minister with the responsibility of finalising the candidate. He will announce the candidate,” he said.
He said the opposition has already nominated a candidate and the meeting was held to ensure a fair election.
“According to the election schedule, voting will be held in the Parliament chamber from 2pm to 5pm on August 20,” he said.
Nurul Islam said the voting will take place inside Parliament and a ballot box will be placed there. Members of Parliament will cast their votes according to their division and seat number, he added.
He said preparations would be made to declare the result before the scheduled closing time if all 349 votes are cast within the first hour of voting. If it is found that one vote remains, it will wait until 5pm. After 5pm, the result will be announced, he said.
The Chief Whip said the voting of the (Acting) President, Leader of the House, Leader of the Opposition and (Acting) Speaker would be broadcast live. After voting is completed, the counting of votes and the process leading to the declaration of the result may also be broadcast live, he said.
Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam said the presidential election should have been held in accordance with the “July Charter” to intensify acceptance and dignity of an elected president.
As the election was being held anyway, the opposition did not want to allow it to take place without a contest, he said.
About Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed whom the opposition alliance declared as the presidential aspirant, Nahid Islam said, “We believe that our candidate will be the most acceptable guardian of Bangladesh at this time.”
If the July charter is implemented, members of Parliament would be able to express their views freely in all matters except money bills and confidence votes under Article 70. But the BNP had proposed adding two more issues to the exceptions — ‘constitutional amendments’ and ‘national security during war situations.