Shahabuddin next president

Md Shahabuddin, a retired district judge and a former commissioner of Anti-Corruption Commission, is set to become the next president unopposed, putting an end to weeks of intense speculation over the post of the head of the state.

The ruling Awami League yesterday submitted the papers nominating Shahabuddin, also a freedom fighter and a member of AL Advisory Council.

As no other political parties with representation in parliament fielded any candidate, the Election Commission will announce Shahabuddin as the president-elect after scrutinising the nomination papers today. 

The development came as a surprise as his name did not surface until the filing of the nomination. Even many top leaders and the rank and file of the party seemed to have been caught off-guard after his name was announced.

"Nobody knew who will be the president even 10 minutes before [the nomination submission]. There were many speculations and even my name was also discussed," said AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader while speaking at a programme yesterday afternoon.

"Bangabandhu's daughter gave us a real surprise."

An AL delegation, led by Obaidul Quader, submitted the nomination papers to the Election Commission.

Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, then disclosed to the media that AL President and AL Parliamentary Party Chairman Sheikh Hasina had picked Shahabuddin as the presidential candidate.

The parliamentary party on February 7 gave Hasina the sole power to finalise the nomination.

In the run-up to the nomination submission, names of many Awami League leaders, several former chief justices and bureaucrats came into discussion.

"It was beyond our imagination that Shahabuddin would be chosen," said a top AL leader.

Shahabuddin, who was in the AL delegation, said he had no immediate reaction. "Everything was done in line with Almighty Allah's will," he said.

The presence of a presidential candidate at the EC during submission of nomination is rare, according to EC officials.

Quader proposed the name on the papers, which was seconded by Information Minister Hasan Mahmud, a lawmaker from Chattogram 7, they said.

Meanwhile, greetings poured in for Shahabuddin from people of all walks of life, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself.

Nicknamed Chuppu, Shahabuddin is also the vice chairman of Islami Bank Bangladesh board of directors.

He was appointed a director of the bank in May 2017 after Chattogram-based S Alam group took over the lender in January that year. He is also legal retainer of NRB Global Bank Limited.

The presidential election is scheduled for February 19, and 343 MPs have been enlisted as voters to elect the head of the state.

The post is mostly ceremonial as he or she is to act as per the advice of the prime minister, except when appointing the premier and the chief justice, but it takes on some significance during the polls. The president has a say in issuing directives to help the Election Commission function effectively.

With the 12th general election slated for January next year, top AL leaders believe someone trustworthy should be holding the president's office during that crucial period.

Incumbent President Abdul Hamid's tenure will expire on April 24.

According to Article 123 of the constitution, the presidential election must be held 60 to 90 days before the expiry of each five-year term.

As per the constitution, Abdul Hamid cannot become president again as he was elected for two terms.

SHAHABUDDIN'S PROFILE

Born in Pabna in 1949, Shahabuddin is a lawyer by profession and a member of the Advisory Council of Awami League, Obaidul Quader said.

He completed a master of science at Rajshahi University in 1974 before obtaining an LLB degree from the same institution in 1975.

In 1971, he was the convenor of the Pabna chapter of Swadhin Bangla Chhatra Sangram Parishad, an alliance of students seeking independence.

Shahabuddin was imprisoned for several years following the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975.

He was later appointed the law ministry's coordinator for the Bangabandhu assassination case.

In 1982, Shahabuddin joined BCS (judicial), and in 1995, he was elected general secretary of the Judicial Service Association.

He worked as a District and Sessions Judge and retired in 2006. He also served as the chairman of a labour court and lawyer of the Supreme Court after his retirement.

Shahabuddin acted as the chairman of Judicial Enquiry Commission to investigate offences like murder, rapes, looting and arson that followed the 2001 elections. The commission was formed following a court order in 2009.

As an ACC commissioner from March 2011 to March 2016, he was vocal against World Bank's allegations of corruption in the process of building the Padma Bridge, after the global lender backtracked on its $1.2 billion deal for the project.

The allegations were later found untrue by a Canadian court.

In December 2012, an ACC enquiry team did not found any material evidence against former communications minister Syed Abul Hossain in this connection.

In the National Council of Awami League in December last year, he served as election commissioner. He also worked as a journalist of Daily Banglar Bani from 1980 to 1982.

His wife Prof Rebecca Sultana is a former joint secretary of the government. They have a son.

Information Minister Hasan Mahmud while talking to reporters at the Secretariat said the party has nominated an extraordinary person for the president post.

Shahabuddin played an important role in dealing with false allegations of corruption in connection with the Padma Bridge project.

He was under too much pressure while serving as the ACC commissioner but stood firm, added the minister.