A meeting of the AL presidium took the decision yesterday with acting party chief Zillur Rahman in the chair.

The opposition party demanded that a person with acceptable credential be named so that Bangladesh could have a chance to glorify its image by clinching the prestigious post.

Nomination of Chowdhury is not only unacceptable but also unfortunate for the nation as he 'directly opposed the country's independence and Liberation War', the meeting observed.

Terming SQ Chowdhury a 'criminal', the AL meeting said there are specific allegations of killings, violence, repression of minority community, smuggling of drugs and arms, and corruption against him.

It also pointed out that SQ Chowdhury was involved with different military governments in past and expelled from his party BNP several times for getting involved in criminal activities and violating party discipline.

The meeting also urged different political, social organisations and the civil society to come forward and compel the government to withdraw the nomination.

The AL government had nominated Humayun Rashid Chowdhury, a career diplomat and former speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad to run for the post, the meeting said. His nomination was however withdrawn following assurance from allies that they would support Bangladesh's candidate in the next polls.