Staff Reporter :
Four civil society representatives invited by the search committee on Wednesday suggested for formation of a non-partisan Election Commission (EC) with inclusion of non-communal and pro-liberation minded people having clean image as its members.
Putting faith on the search committee, they said the new EC members should be competent and experienced and aged below 70.
They also hoped they (search committee) will recommend the best names to form the next EC.
The suggestions came from former chief election commissioner Abu Hena, Barrister Rokon Uddin Mahmud, the Dainik Samakal Editor Golam Sarwar and The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam.
They met with the search committee members at the Supreme Court Judges’ Lounge in Dhaka in the morning.
The meeting which started at 11am lasted for one and a half hours.
“The search panel met them for discussion over the formation of next EC. They suggested the EC should be composed of individuals with non-communal and pro-liberation people having clean images, administrative skill, the physical and mental capacity to fulfil their duties and the ability to stand up under pressure,” Cabinet Division Additional Secretary Abdul Wadud told media.
The six members search panel will meet again at 4pm on Thursday, he said.
“The next election commissioners have to be competent, honest and they must remain strong to keep themselves outside political influence,” Abu Hena, a former chief of the EC, told media after the meeting.
Daily Samakal Editor Golam Sarwar said they have “confidence” on the search body that they will come up with good proposals for the next election commissioners.
The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam also echoed the words of Editor Sarwar and expressed hopes that the next commission will have a bold role in discharging its duties.
Another civil society leader Barrister Rokonuddin Mahmud and Abdul Wadud, additional secretary to the cabinet division, also spoke to the media after the meeting.
On Tuesday, the search panel shortlisted 20 people out of about 125 names suggested by 27 political parties, including the ruling Awami League and the BNP.
Four parties – Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Gono Forum and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish – refrained from recommending anyone.
President Md Abdul Hamid formed the panel on January 25 after discussions with 31 registered political parties.
The committee was instructed to suggest two names against each post and outline recommendations within ten working days.
It was also suggested to pick a female election commissioner, the first in the country’s history, according to the president’s instruction on the reformation of EC.
