Electing president key task

Amid boycott by the BNP-led opposition lawmakers, the Jatiya Sangsad goes into session today with one of its major tasks in hand to elect the country's new president.
The post of president has fallen vacant following the death of President Zillur Rahman on March 20.
According to the constitution, the lawmakers will elect the president within 90 days of the post becoming vacant.
As per the election schedule announced by the Election Commission, aspirants for the presidency will have to file nomination papers by today.
Before the House goes into session in the afternoon, the Awami League Parliamentary Party sits in the morning with one of the agendas to pick the party's nominee for the presidential polls scheduled for April 29.
Sources in the AL said Speaker Abdul Hamid, who is acting as the president, is likely to get party's ticket for the presidency.
After finalising its candidate, an AL delegation will go to the EC today to collect the application form for the candidacy and will submit it on behalf of Abdul Hamid.
If Hamid is elected as the president, the House will elect a new Speaker to replace him.
The BNP-led opposition lawmakers, who have been boycotting parliament since March last year, are set to boycott the 17th session.
Contacted, BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said there is no atmosphere in the House for them to join parliament session.
“Many of our central leaders including four lawmakers are now behind bars. How can our MPs attend parliament in this situation?” he questioned.
The Business Advisory Committee of parliament is scheduled to sit at 4:30pm today to fix the duration of the session and other major businesses of it, sources at parliament secretariat said.