Search Committee finalises 10 names

The Search Committee, formed to propose nominations to constitute the next Election Commission, Tuesday finalized the names of 10 people for submitting those to the president. Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam informed the matter while talking to reporters after the 7th meeting of the committee held at the Judge Lounge of the Supreme Court here.

"The search committee has finalized the names of 10 people after the meeting. The search committee will hand over the names to the President next Thursday (February 24). He (the head of the state) will decide the next matter accordingly," he said.

Search committee chief Justice Obaidul Hassan presided over the 7th meeting. Search committee members High Court Division Justice SM Kuddus Zaman, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury, Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman Mohammed Sohrab Hossain, former Election Commissioner Mohammed Sohul Hossain and Writer Prof Anwara Syed Haq joined the 7th, also the last meeting today.

Following the sixth meeting of search committee held on February 20, Justice Obaidul Hassan said that according to the law, the Search Committee cannot reveal the names. "After receiving the list of the proposed names, the President may reveal the names if he wishes," he added on that day.

Earlier, the search committee held meetings with 47 eminent personalities in four phases on February 12, 13 and 14 last for receiving suggestions in forming the next EC.

On February 14 last, the Cabinet Division, which provided secretarial support to the search committee, published 322 names which the political parties, professional bodies and individuals proposed to include in the search committee for formation of the next EC on its website. After receiving the final 10 names, the President will select five names for Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other Election Commissioners for forming next EC as per the law.