Abdul Hamid elected as Bangladesh’s president

Dhaka: Bangladesh’s veteran politician and parliamentary speaker Abdul Hamid was on Sunday elected unopposed as the country’s new President, a day after ruling Awami League nominated him for the top post.

69-year-old Hamid, a long time aide to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, turned out to be the only one to have filed his nomination for the top post.

“Hamid is a competent candidate (for the presidency)…we have the confidence that he would discharge the responsibility as the president with all competence,” senior Awami League leader Tofail Ahmed told newsmen after filing the nomination papers at the commission on Saturday.

The Awami League Parliamentary Party (ALPP) on Saturday unanimously nominated Hamid who subsequently gave his consent putting his signature on the nomination papers in presence of party president and Prime Minister Hasina.

Hamid became the acting president on March 14 in accordance with the constitution after President Rahman fell sick and was flown to Singapore for treatment.