Colonel (retd.) Oli Ahmed, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party and candidate of the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance, said the president has no constitutional scope to act independently beyond visiting shrines and praying at a mosque within Bangabhaban. He made the remarks at a press conference on Thursday afternoon, according to the report published on August 21, 2026.

Ahmed said Bangabhaban currently contains three shrines and one mosque. He expressed hope that a future sitting of parliament would bring a balance of power to the state. His comments framed the president’s role as constitutionally constrained and linked expectations for institutional balance to the convening of parliament.

At the press conference, Ahmed congratulated Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on becoming president. He said they had worked together for a long time and that he expected positive contributions from him. Ahmed said he hoped the president would rise above all considerations and work for the country’s welfare. He also thanked those who supported him in his election assessment.