Search committee to hold meeting with noted persons

The six-member search committee, which was formed to reconstitute the Election Commission (EC), has decided to hold meeting with distinguished personalities of the country. The search committee at its second meeting held at Supreme Court Judges lounge here Tuesday took some decisions, said cabinet secretary Khondoker Anwarul Islam to journalists after the meeting.

The decisions including seeking names of the registered political parties for the EC from tomorrow and the political parties can sent their proposal directly to the cabinet division or through email, said Islam who is designated to provide secretarial assistance to the committee. The names must have to be sent to the cabinet division by Friday afternoon, he said, adding that the cabinet division office will remain open till 5pm on Friday.

At the same time, the search committee will hold meeting with the noted persons including different professionals on Saturday and Sunday, said the cabinet secretary. The number of such persons may be more or less 60. The cabinet will issue letters to the noted persons from tomorrow.

The chairman of the committee Justice Obaidul Hassan presided over the meeting. Committee members Justice S M 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 Writer Professor Anwara Syed Haq joined the meeting.

Earlier, the first meeting of the committee was held on February 6. On February 5, a gazette notification was issued after constituting a search committee who will recommends the names of the eligible persons for appointing the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other election commissioners (ECs). President M Abdul Hamid has formed the search committee as per the law.

Earlier on 27 January, the bill was passed during the 16th session of the 11th National Assembly at the Parliament unanimously by voice vote. Later, it got the approval of President Abdul Hamid. Law Minister Anisul Huq placed the bill in parliament on 23 January seeking to give a legal shield to the current and previous commissions formed through search committees.

The term of the current commission is coming to an end on 14 February. According to the new EC formation law, the search committee has to submit names of 10 eligible persons to the president within 15 working days.