DHAKA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh will elect a new president when parliament convenes in September, a minister has said.

Under the Constitution, a presidential election must be held within 90 days of the president's resignation, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman told journalists in Dhaka on Saturday.

The second session of parliament ended on July 15. The third session must be convened within two months, by Sept. 14.

The Parliament Secretariat confirmed to the media on Friday that Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad has begun discharging the functions of the president in accordance with the Constitution following the resignation of Mohammed Shahabuddin Chuppu.

Speaking to Xinhua, Md Sarwar Alam, press secretary to the president, confirmed that Shahabuddin had submitted his signed resignation letter to the speaker, citing serious illness.

According to the Constitution of Bangladesh, members of parliament are voters in the presidential election.

As Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) holds a majority in parliament, its nominee is widely expected to be elected Bangladesh's next president. ■