DHAKA : BNP Senior Joint Secretary General and Political Adviser to Prime Minister Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi today said that party’s high-level policymaking forum will decide who will be the country's next President.

He said, “The decision on who will be the next President will be taken at the party's highest level...The party's final decision will be communicated to the nation in due course.”

Rizvi made the remarks while talking to journalists this afternoon after placing wreaths and offering “Munajat” at the grave of the party's founder Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister late Begum Khaleda Zia at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city. 

At that time, 12 officials, who had been given contractual appointments in various government institutions the previous day, accompanied the BNP leader.

Regarding the resignation of former President Mohammad Shahabuddin from the post of President, Rizvi said, "He has resigned citing physical condition, and we would like to believe that”. 

However, he said various political parties have demanded trial of the resigned president. “The BNP's policymaking forum will discuss the matter later and make a final decision to this end.”

Mentioning the sacrifices of the 12 official, he said, "Those who were given responsibilities in various government agencies yesterday have been involved with BNP’s politics for a long time.
They have been given these important responsibilities as recognition of their contributions and sacrifices of the party's leaders and activists in the recent movement."

"We firmly believe that those who have been given responsibilities today will not sell their principles under any circumstances and will never bow their heads,” he added. 

Lauding the leadership of Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, the veteran BNP leader said, "In the past four months, the Prime Minister and his government have undertaken numerous social welfare initiatives and are working tirelessly to implement every promises."