Alongside sorting out the names received from different sources, the ‘Search Committee’ is also looking for more persons eligible and acceptable to all as the next Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), and four other members of the Election Commission (EC).
According to sources, the ‘Search Committee’ formed to find eligible people for the posts of CEC and other EC members has so far received a total of 329 names proposed by 24 political parties, six organisations and many individuals.
Later, in February the Cabinet Division published a list with a total of 322 names of persons from different professions, including teaching, business, defense, NGO, agriculture and law.
The ‘Search Committee’ received those 329 names after it had urged a total of 39 political parties registered with the EC to suggest names eligible for the posts of CEC and other EC members. The Search Committee also urged individuals to suggest names.
In response to the Search Committee, a total of 24 political parties, including ruling Awami League, proposed names. But, 14 other parties, including BNP and CPB did not show any interest in the request of the Search Committee.
Meanwhile, the ‘Search Committee’ also had talks with a total of 51 eminent citizens of the country, including teachers, lawyers and senior journalists for their suggestions. In this regard, four separate meetings were also held.
Sources said, the Search Committee is now busy sorting out those names received from different sources.
But, the Committee sources said, it is not fully satisfied with those names and, therefore, it is now finding more names that could be more eligible and acceptable to the people of the country.
As the Committee will have to submit a proposal to President Abdul Hamid by February, it has more time to find more persons.
The ‘Search Committee’ is not bound to select names only from the names proposed from different sources. It has the right to choose any name it wants, and can reject all the proposed names as well if it wants.
Cabinet Secretary (Coordination & Reformation) Shamsul Arefin on Wednesday said the ‘Search Committee’ is still looking for persons eligible and well accepted by the people of the country for the posts of the CEC and other EC members.
Asked, he said, “The Search Committee is trying to complete the process as early as possible.”
“The committee is trying its best to find the right people”, he added.
In another reply, Shamsul Arefin said, the committee was also busy with sorting the names received from different sources.
Earlier, the six-member Search Committee headed by Appellate Division Justice Obaidul Hasan of the Supreme Court was formed on February 6 to recommend eligible people for appointment as CEC and members of the EC.
Five other members of the search committee 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 Professor Anwara Syed Haq, who is also known to all as a prominent writer and columnist.
The committee has been asked to submit its recommendations before the President in line with the new law titled 'Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners’ Appointment Act 2022’.
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.
