Online Desk 

Dhaka, Aug. 1: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will hold a meeting of its highest policymaking body, the National Standing Committee, on Saturday evening to discuss the nomination of the party's candidate for the presidency, the current political situation, and various organizational matters.

According to party sources, the upcoming presidential election is expected to be the meeting's principal agenda. The sources said the party aims to finalize its nominee as the government plans to complete the presidential election within August. However, the final decision may be left to BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.

Earlier, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the Standing Committee would decide whether the party would nominate a party candidate or support a non-partisan nominee for the presidency.

Within the party, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is widely regarded as the leading potential candidate. Party leaders believe his long-standing leadership, role during political crises, clean public image, and acceptability beyond party lines have made him the frontrunner.

Other names reportedly under discussion include Standing Committee members Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, and Nazrul Islam Khan.

Following the resignation of President Mohammed Shahabuddin on July 24, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed has been serving as Acting President. Under the Constitution, a new President must be elected within 90 days of the office becoming vacant.

In addition to the presidential election, the Standing Committee is also expected to discuss the country's current political situation, programmes marking the anniversary of the July mass uprising, and measures to strengthen the party's organizational activities amid recent clashes involving the National Citizen Party (NCP) in different parts of the country.