Shahabuddin Chuppu set to become next Bangladesh president

DHAKA, Bangladesh

Mohammad Shahabuddin Chuppu, 74, has been declared as the next president-elect of Bangladesh by the country’s Election Commission on Monday.

Speaking to reporters in the capital Dhaka, Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal said that the ruling Awami League (AL) party nominee Shahabuddin was elected unopposed as the 22nd president.

The nomination process for the presidential election ended on Sunday, and the commission did not get any other nominations.

The ruling AL party has all necessary seats, 302 out of 350 seats, in the national parliament and no other political party has representation in the parliament to nominate a presidential candidate.

Hailing from the northern Pabna district, retired district judge Shahabuddin also served as a member of the AL’s Advisory Council.

A freedom fighter of the country’s independence war in 1971, he also served as commissioner of the country's autonomous body against corruption, Anti-Corruption Commission.

Shahabuddin will replace the incumbent President Abdul Hamid. Hamid's tenure will expire on April 24.

According to the country’s constitution, the presidential election must be held 60 to 90 days before the expiry of each five-year term. Hamid cannot become president again as he was elected for two terms, according to the country’s constitution.