Article 54 of the Constitution says if a vacancy occurs in the office of President or if the President is unable to discharge the functions of his office on account of absence, illness or any other cause, the Speaker shall discharge those functions until a President is elected or until the President resumes his office, as the case may be.

"I am not aware of the President's absence as I cannot take cognisance of media reports… Until and unless a government gazette notification is issued, for practical purpose, informing me about the President's absence, I cannot take up the charge," Speaker Barrister Jamir Uddin Sircar told UNB.

However, he said Article 54 of the Constitution does not require any notification.

In reply to a question, the Speaker said it could not be called a violation of the Constitution as practice is there that a President can discharge his function while abroad in this era of modern information technology.

He mentioned that former President Prof Badruddoza Chowdhury went to Saudi Arabia to perform hajj without delegating power to the Speaker. The reason put forward behind such decision was that the President can pass his opinion or decision through fax or cellphone.

Speaker Sircar said in this situation, although the President is absent physically, "it construes that he is present".

He had to perform the function of the President twice-after Prof B Chowdhury's resignation from the presidency and during heart surgery of the incumbent in Singapore.

President Ahmed is scheduled to return home on July 19.