Dhaka: A 5–member team of the ruling Awami League, on behalf of incumbent President Abdul Hamid, collected nomination paper for the presidential election slated for February 18.

The AL team, led by chief whip AS Feroz, collected the nomination paper from the returning officer’s office of the Election Commission at Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka at 11:15am.

Helal Uddin Ahmed, acting secretary of the Election Commission, handed over the nomination paper in presence of Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda.

‘We’ve collected the nomination paper on behalf of our party’s nominated aspirant for presidential election. Now, we’re taking the nomination paper to Bhangabhaban. We’ll submit it on February 5,’ said the chief whip.

Awami League on Wednesday nominated M Abdul Hamid as its candidate to contest the presidential election.

The nomination was finalised at a meeting of the Awami League Parliamentary Board held at the Prime Minister’s official residence Ganobhaban with Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

M Abdul Hamid was born on January 1, 1944 at Kamalpur in Mithamoin Upazila of Kishoreganj district.

Hamid was the founder President of Chhatra League of Kishoregonj Sub-division unit in 1964 and also elected Vice President of Chhatra League of Mymensingh district unit in 1966-67. He was imprisoned in 1968 for leading the then student movement. He joined Awami League in 1969.

Hamid, a valiant freedom fighter, was the President of Kishoreganj district Awami League from 1978 to 2009 and the President of Kishoreganj District Bar Association for 5 times during 1990-96.

In the Pakistan National Assembly Election of 1970, Hamid was elected the junior most member from Mymensingh-18 constituency. In 1972, he became the Member of Constituent Assembly). As a pro-people and grassroots level popular leader of Bangladesh Awami League, he was elected Member of Parliament for several times.

In the general elections of 1973, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2009 he was elected Member of Parliament from Kishoreganj5 as an Awami League nominee.

Abdul Hamid was unanimously elected Deputy Speaker in the 7th Parliament on 13 July 1996 and held the post till 10 July, 2001. Later, he became Speaker of the Parliament on 12 July 2001 and remained so till 28 October 2001. In the 8  Parliament he served as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 01 November, 2001 to 27 October 2006.

Hamid was elected the Speaker in the 9  Parliament and served office in this capacity during the period 2009-2013.

After the death of Zillur Rahman on March 20, 2013 in Singapore, Hamid became acting President from that day. Later, he was elected President uncontested as the 22nd President of Bangladesh on 22 April 2013. He was sworn in to the office of President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh on April 24, 2013.