An 11-party opposition coalition spearheaded by the Jamaat-e-Islami officially submitted the presidential nomination papers for Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Chairman Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed on Thursday.

The filing, ahead of the election scheduled for August 20, was conducted at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon, where a delegation led by Jamaat Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad presented the documents to Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at 11:49 am.

The nomination formally identifies Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed as the alliance’s contender, with Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, MP, serving as the proposer and National Citizens Party (NCP) lawmaker Abdullah Al Amin acting as the seconder.

The Election Commission (EC) set the current electoral timeline on August 6, designating Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin as the returning officer.

Under the mandates of the Presidential Election Act, 1991, the EC has formally convened Members of Parliament (MPs) to assemble at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban’s session chamber on August 20 for the ballot.

Following the official calendar, authorities will conduct a scrutiny of all nomination papers on August 16, with August 18 serving as the final deadline for candidates to withdraw their names.

Voting is slated to occur between 2 pm and 5 pm on August 20.

With one parliamentary seat—Chattogram-4—currently vacant, the electoral college for this cycle consists of 349 voting lawmakers.

This contest marks a historic shift in national politics, as it will be the first contested presidential election in 35 years, necessitating a formal vote for the first time since 1991.

While the opposition has solidified its choice, the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has signaled its intent to field Local Government and Rural Development Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir for the presidency.

The upcoming poll follows the resignation of former President Mohammed Shahabuddin on July 24, after which Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad assumed the duties of acting president.

Under Article 123(2) of the Constitution, the state is required to hold an election to fill a presidential vacancy within 90 days of the office becoming vacant.