New Delhi, Aug. 13 -- Bangladesh's ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Thursday nominated its secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as its presidential candidate, paving the way for his election as the country's next head of state.

The presidential election is scheduled to take place on August 20.

Following his nomination, the 78-year-old veteran politician stepped down as BNP secretary general and resigned from the party's highest policy-making Standing Committee, senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced.

"It is with great pleasure that I announce on behalf of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party that our dedicated secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, has become the BNP's presidential candidat...