The 11-party alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Sunday named retired colonel Oli Ahmad, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party, as its candidate for Bangladesh’s August 20 presidential election.

The decision was announced after a meeting at the official residence of opposition leader and Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman on Minto Road in Dhaka.

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party, a partner in the alliance, declared the candidacy. Jamaat’s Central Majlis-e-Shura member, Ataur Rahman Sarker, confirmed the development to Bonik Barta.

Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned as the president on July 24, citing illness. With Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad currently serving as acting president under constitutional authority, preparations are underway for a presidential election.

Under the constitution, a new president must be elected by members of parliament within 90 days of the president’s resignation.

The Election Commission has set August 13 as the deadline for filing nomination papers, according to its senior secretary Akhter Ahmed.

Scrutiny is scheduled for August 16 and the last day for withdrawal is August 18. Only members of parliament are eligible to vote in the presidential ballot.