Search panel to seek names for EC reformation

The newly-formed search committee is all set to collect names from registered political parties for the reconstitution of the Election Commission, reports BSS.

The committee came up with the decision in its first meeting at the Judges Lounge of Supreme Court Appellate Division on Sunday afternoon, confirmed Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam.

Anwarul, who is in charge of providing secretarial help in the search committee, was briefing the  media the meeting.

The incumbent commission's tenure will expire on February 14. Before the end of incumbent EC, new commission will be formed.

On Saturday, a six-member search committee was formed to constitute the Election Commission (EC) as per the 'Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Appointment Act 2022' for conducting the next general elections. 

Appellate Division Justice Obaidul Hassan of the Bangladesh Supreme Court was made head of the search committee.

Other committee members are: Justice SM Kuddus Zaman of High Court Division, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury, Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman Mohammed Sohrab Hossain, former Election Commissioner Mohammed Sohul Hossain and Writer Professor Anwara Syed Haq.

Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification in this regard on Saturday. As per the notification, the search committee will help reconstitute the next EC as the incumbent commission's tenure will expire on February 14. 

The committee has been asked to submit its recommendations of names before the president within 15 working days since formation of the committee in line with the new law titled 'Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners' Appointment Act 2022'. 

It will propose two names for each post of Chief Election Commission (CEC) and four other commissioners. Of the 10 persons, the president will constitute new Election Commission having 5 persons including CEC.

On January 30 last, President M Abdul Hamid signed the bill into the law on EC formation. Earlier, the bill was approved in the Jatiya Sangsad (parliament).

The search committee is the outcome of a month-long dialogue between the President and registered political parties over the EC reconstitution.

The president previously started a dialogue with registered political parties on December 20 last year in this regard. Most of the participating political parties, including the ruling Awami League, advocated for the enactment of a law alongside the formation of a search committee to ensure an independent and credible EC.

The incumbent government's move to enact the law came nearly 50 years after the Constitution prescribed enacting a specific law for forming the EC.