Bangladesh has scheduled the presidential election for Aug 20, with nomination papers to be submitted on Aug 13, the Election Commission (EC) has announced.

The commission unveiled the election schedule on Thursday after an informal meeting presided over by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin.

Election Commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Masud and Tahmida Ahmed attended the meeting, while Commissioners Anwarul Islam Sarkar and Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah were abroad.

EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed announced the schedule at a briefing at the Election Commission headquarters at 2pm, reports bdnews24.com.

Under the timetable, nomination papers will be accepted on Aug 13, scrutinised on Aug 16, while candidates may withdraw their nominations on Aug 18.

Voting, if required, will take place on Aug 20.

Under the Presidential Election Act, 1991, every candidate must be proposed and seconded by two members of parliament, while the candidate must also sign the nomination paper.

If only one valid nomination is received, that candidate will be declared elected unopposed.

If more than one candidate qualifies, members of parliament will vote in the parliament chamber in accordance with the law.

Since the restoration of parliamentary democracy in 1991, the presidential election has required voting only once as more than one candidate contested.

Every president since has been elected unopposed after being nominated by the ruling party.

The law provides that members of parliament constitute the electoral college, while the CEC serves as the returning officer for the election.

The chief election commissioner's office will receive and scrutinise nomination papers, while voting will take place in the parliament chamber.

Article 7 of the law says the returning officer will examine nomination papers on the scheduled date, time and venue.

If there is only one valid candidate, the EC will declare that person elected unopposed.

If more than one valid nomination remains, the commission will announce the candidates and hold the election.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned on Jul 24, citing serious illness.

As per the Constitution, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad has assumed the role of acting president until a successor is elected, while Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal is carrying out the speaker's duties.

The Constitution requires the election to be held within 90 days of the presidency falling vacant, setting a deadline of Oct 22.

The EC has already begun preparations to meet that requirement.

Following convention, CEC Nasir Uddin held preliminary talks with acting Speaker Kayser Kamal on Jul 28 about the election.

The commission received the electoral roll from the parliament secretariat on Wednesday.

The ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has also held a policy meeting, clearing the way for the commission to announce the schedule.