India, Aug. 3 -- The ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has authorised Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to select the party's candidate for the country's presidential elections, local media reported.

The decision was taken on Saturday at BNP's National Standing Committee's meeting, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.

The meeting was headed by PM Rahman, who is also the BNP chairman.

"The Standing Committee has entrusted Prime Minister and BNP Chairman to take necessary decisions regarding the presidential election and select the party's nominee," state-owned Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha quoted BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as saying.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad took charge as the acting president after Mohammed ...