C T Online Desk: The Search Committee is now passing busy time scrutinising prospective names for the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and four other commissioners as political parties and individuals are submitting profiles of capable persons before the body.
Over 200 names have been submitted before the Search Committee either directly or through e-mail as of Thursday, sources say.
Political parties are also passing hectic time to finalise their choice lists as the deadline for submission of names ends today.
The Search Committee has been formed to recommend prospective names for the appointment of CEC and other commissioners before the President.
According to the panel’s decision, the political parties can submit two names against each of the five posts by today.
Cabinet Division Joint Secretary Shafiul Azim told the Daily Sun that they have so far received over 200 names from some political parties and individuals.
“Individuals have submitted most of the names through e-mail. We hope registered political parties will submit their choice lists by tomorrow (Friday),” he said.
Apart from individuals, autonomous and private organisations submitted some names through e-mail.
Although ruling Awami League was supposed to submit their chosen names by Thursday, it decided to do so today.
AL Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan told the Daily Sun that they are yet to receive any names from their party President Sheikh Hasina.
Main opposition Jatiya Party is scheduled to send their names by the stipulated time while Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and some other parties have decided not to send any names before the Search Committee.
Meanwhile, BNP on Thursday received a letter from the Search Committee for sending names.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told newsmen that they received the letter from the Cabinet Division in the evening.
Earlier in the day, the Cabinet Division invited civil society members, election experts, media personalities and a cross-section of people for talks with the Search Committee.
The six-member Search Committee will hold three more meetings – one from 11:00am to 12:30pm and another from 12:45pm to 2:15pm tomorrow and the last one from 4:00pm on Sunday — at the Supreme Court Judge’s Lounge.
Earlier on February 5, the Search Committee, headed by Justice Obaidul Hassan of Supreme Court’s Appellate Division, was formed for recommending the names of eligible individuals for the posts of CEC and other commissioners to reconstitute the Election Commission (EC).
The body will propose two names against each of the five posts analysing their qualifications and ineligibility.
President Abdul Hamid will then constitute the new EC taking five names from the proposed list. The new EC will oversee the next parliamentary and other elections to be held in the next five years.
The tenure of the incumbent EC, led by CEC KM Nurul Huda, ends on February 14. The President has to form the new EC before the tenure of the incumbent EC.
There has been a longstanding demand for forming the EC in line with the provision of the Constitution. As there was no specific law in this regard, late President Zillur Rahman took initiative for talks with the registered political parties and formed the Search Committee for appointing the CEC and other commissioners.
Incumbent President M Abdul Hamid also followed his predecessor while reconstituting the last EC.
Amid talks with the registered political parties, the government on January 17 approved the EC formation bill.
After debate in and outside Parliament, the bill was passed on January 27 with aprovision of keeping a female in the Search Committee.
