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Search committee and our expectations

5 || risingbd.com

Published: 11:34, 29 January 2017   Update: 15:18, 26 July 2020
Search committee and our expectations

An independent and neutral Election Commission is unavoidable to hold an acceptable election. It is very difficult job to form an Election Commission acceptable to all political parties.

 

The President has the right to form the Election Commission. He can form the Election Commission under a law as per the constitution. But it is a matter of regret that the law is not introduced yet even after 45 years of the Independence. As a result, debate over the formation of the Election Commission becomes visible every time.

 

The tenure of the present Election Commission is expiring on February 14. Commission secretary said the present Election Commission will continue its activities till February 14. After this, the new Election Commission will assume office. New Election Commissioners will be appointed before assuming office.

 

President Abdul Hamid has held discussions with different political parties in a bid to form an independent and neutral Election Commission. Prior to this, the President formed a search committee by holding discussions with different political parties following the formation of new Election Commission.

 

This time the President has formed a six-member search committee to recommend for election commissioners for the new Election Commission. We hope this search committee will be able to play a vital role in forming a new Election Commission.

 

The search committee headed by an Appellate Division Justice included a High Court Division Justice, a Comptroller and Auditor General, Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman and two prominent university professors. Associate bodies of 14-party alliance including ruling Awami League hailed the search committee. But Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expressed dissatisfaction over the search committee. According to them, it is not possible to work out of influence for a person who possesses a highest post of the government.

 

The search committee the President has formed has been given freedom to sort out its activities. The committee has sought five names from each political party after holding its first meeting. Each political party with whom the President held discussions can send a list of five names according to their choices. They have been asked to send the name list by January 31. Besides, the search committee has taken a decision to pick opinions from prominent persons in search for competent persons who will recommend for new election commissioners.

 

A fair election is needed to take forward the country’s democratic process. At the same time, an independent and neutral Election Commission is certainly needed to hold a free and fair election. All eye on the search committee. The search committee members have only 10 working days at their hand to recommend for new election commissioners.

 

It is undoubtedly a challenge to accomplish the job within shortest time. We expect the search committee will be able to play a key role in forming a new Election Commission pushing away all debates. An independent and neutral Election Commission is inevitably needed for a free and fair election.

 

risingbd/DHAKA/Jan 29, 2017/Ali Nowsher/Amirul

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