Jamaat names Col Oli as presidential candidate
Photo: Agamir Somoy
The Jamaat led 11 party alliance has announced Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Col (retd) Oli Ahmed (Bir Bikram) as its candidate for president.
NCP Convener and Chief Whip of the opposition Nahid Islam announced his name at a press conference following a meeting of the 11 parties on Sunday.
Nahid Islam said the decision to nominate Col Oli Ahmed was finalized at a meeting of the top leaders of the 11 parties. All parties have agreed to the decision.
Later, Jamaat Ameer and opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman said, “We have nominated the best person from our side for the post of president. Everyone should pray for him.”
In response, Col Oli Ahmed said, “I am grateful to everyone from the 11 parties. I am grateful to the people of the country. There are no allegations against me, and as a freedom fighter, everyone unanimously proposed my name. I thank everyone for that.”
He said, “We want to tell the nation that we will never betray this nation. Whether we win or lose is not the question. The question is that we will always stand by the people.”
Earlier on Sunday afternoon, a meeting of the top leaders of the 11 parties began at the official residence of the opposition leader.
The meeting was chaired by Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman. Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, 11 party alliance coordinator Dr Hamidur Rahman Azad, LDP’s Col (retd) Oli Ahmed, JAGPA’s Rashed Pradhan, Khelafat Majlis’s Mamunul Haque, National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam, Nasiruddin Patwari and other alliance leaders attended the meeting.
Earlier on Saturday evening, Jamaat announced in a press release that it would participate in the election of the country’s 23rd president. The decision was made at a meeting of Jamaat’s Central Executive Council at its central office in Moghbazar in the capital.
