Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said Bangladesh’s Constitution will be amended to change Article 70, and the next presidential election will be held under the revised provision. He made the remarks while speaking with journalists on Thursday, August 20. He said the country is holding a constitutionally competitive presidential election after about 35 years.

Ahmed said the current election includes a candidate from the opposition party and that presidential elections should be conducted in this manner. In his view, such a contest will give people in the country an opportunity to see the democratic practice they expect.

The minister said the opposition has not yet joined the committee formed to work on constitutional amendments, but changing Article 70 remains part of the process. Under the current provision, a member of parliament loses their seat if they vote against their party’s decision. The article has recently prompted political and constitutional debate around the presidential election.