Staff Reporter :
Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Dr Iftekharuzzaman on Wednesday urged the government to formulate a law over the appointment of Election Commissioners (EC) immediately aiming to ensure the Election Commission’s credibility.
“The tenure of the present Election Commission will expire in February. The law can be formulated before the constitution of the new Commission if there is a political will,” the Executive Director said in a statement yesterday.
Iftekharuzzaman said, it is a matter of concern that there is no law at present about ECs appointment despite having a constitutional obligation to do so.
He said, if such a law is formulated, it will help ensure a credible election process and enhance the possibility for holding a free, transparent and inclusive election.
Besides, he said, it will increase the acceptability of the EC both at home and abroad.
“Not only the section 118 (1) of the Constitution is being violated by appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and other commissioners based on nomination without formulating any law, but also people’s confidence in the Election Commission and the election system is gradually waning,” he observed.
According to section 118 (1) of the Constitution, he said the President will appoint the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other commissioners as per the rules and law regarding the EC formation. Iftekharuzzaman suggested making a law about the EC appointment involving experts and stakeholders and then constituting a search committee as per the law.
If such a search committee appoints the CEC and other commissioners, he said, it will be possible to avoid various controversies, including the lack of transparency and political influence, in formulating the EC.
Iftekhar said the jurisdiction of the search committee, qualifications and indelibility of its members, the conditions for appointing the ECE and other commissioners, their status, salary and allowances and other relevant elements can be included in the proposed law.
“TIB calls upon for making the law on EC appointment before the formation of new commissioners in February 2017 through talks involving all the stakeholders,” he said.
