Search committee likely this week [ Tritiyo Matra News ]

Search committee likely this week

Local January 25, 2017

The president, Abdul Hamid, is likely to form a search committee in a couple of days to reconstitute the Election Commission, which would conduct the next parliamentary election.
‘The president may send a letter to the Cabinet Division tomorrow [Wednesday] on the formation of a search committee to reconstitute the Election Commission,’ president’s press secretary Joynal Abedin told New Age on Tuesday.
The formation of the search committee would reject the possibility of the enactment of a law right now on the appointment of the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners as stipulated in the constitution.
Most of the registered parties who participated in the president’s talks with the parties on the reconstitution of the commission proposed the enactment of the law.
The tenure of Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad-led commission, which was formed by late president Zillur Rahman in 2012 through a search committee, would expire on February 8.
The president received proposals from 31 political parties during his talks with them from December 18, 2016 to January 18, 2017.
Twenty of the parties proposed enactment of a law on appointment of the chief and other election commissioners saying that the president had to make the appointment under the provisions of a law as stipulated in the constitution.
No such law has yet been enacted since the adoption of the constitution in 1972.
A Bangabhaban high official said that the president opted to form a search committee for the appointment of the chief and other election commissioners considering that the enactment of such an important law would not be possible before the expiry of the tenure of the incumbent commission.
The ruling Awami League, Jatiya party faction led by HM Ershad, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal faction led by information minister Hasanul Haq Inu, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal faction led by Sharif Nurul Ambia, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, Ganatantri Party, Gana Forum, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Gana Front, National Awami Party, Bangladesh National Awami Party, Khelafat Majlish, Socialist Party of Bangladesh, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Samyabadi Dal, Tariqat Federation, Bangladesh Jatiya Party and Bangladesh Nationalist Front proposed the enactment of the law.
The Awami League in its proposals said that the law might be made through enactment by the parliament or by promulgation of an ordinance by the president.
‘If it is not possible because of time constraint, appropriate initiatives might be taken right now in accordance with the constitution so that the law can be implemented in reconstitution of the commission in the future,’ the proposals said.
Law minister Anisul Huq told the reporters on January 12, a day after the submission of AL’s proposal, that he believed the law on appointment of election commissioners should not be formulated in a hurry.
He said that the law should be made after proper scrutiny and detailed examinations of relevant issues.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the main opposition party, however, proposed a search committee for the appointment of the chief and other election commissioners.
BNP in their proposals also pointed out the need for formation of a polls-time government.
Two Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal factions, Liberal Democratic Party, Ganatantri Party, Gana Forum, Bangladesh NAP, Khelafat Majlish, Socialist Party of Bangladesh and Bikalpadhara Bangladesh also proposed a search committee.
Socialist Party of Bangladesh proposed formation of a search committee with representatives from all registered political parties and also constitution of a nine-member commission.
The nine-member commission was also proposed by Gana Front. The party also proposed appointment of a former chief of army as election commissioner.
Bikalpadhara Bangladesh in its proposals drummed up its support to the election-time all party government as offered by the prime minister Sheikh Hasina before the January 5 general elections, boycotted by all opposition parties.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal faction led by ASM Abdur Rob also proposed an election-time government but through introduction of a bicameral parliament.
Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan and Khelafat Majlish proposed the restoration of the caretaker government system or introduction of any other election-time government system.
Bangladesh Islami Front proposed that public administration, finance and home ministries should be handed over to the commission during elections.
The proposals placed by political parties before the president also include the appointment of the election commissioners in phases and ensuring women’s participation in the commission as well as in the search committee.
In 2012, late president Zillur Rahman formed a four-member search committee following dialogue with 24 political parties before the formation of the incumbent commission headed by Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad.