EC Formation: Search panel too proposed enacting law

The six-member search committee proposed, among other things, enacting a law on formation of the Election Commission.

The panel made the recommendation in its report to the president with a vision of what type of EC the people want to see in the future.

“We have recommended that the Cabinet Division, which provided us with secretarial assistance, publish the vision and recommendations so that people can know what the search committee has done and what the civil society members have recommended,” Prof Syed Manzoorul Islam, a member of the panel, told The Daily Star yesterday.

On January 25, President Abdul Hamid formed the search panel after having dialogue with 31 political parties on EC formation.

During the talks, the ruling Awami League and several other parties suggested enacting a law on EC formation. The BNP, however, didn't make any such suggestion.

Unlike the previous search committee, the panel held meetings with 16 civil society members to get their views on EC formation. The eminent citizens told the panel that their opinions should be recorded and given to the next EC.

The eminent persons also suggested that the panel should have a vision, and should give the next EC some suggestions.

A source at the Cabinet Division yesterday said it was yet to decide whether the recommendations of the civil society members would be made public.

Despite several attempts, The Daily Star couldn't reach Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam over his mobile phone.

In its recommendations to the president, the panel proposed the names of three eminent citizens for the posts of election commissioner. The president, however, didn't pick any of them.

The three are Dhaka University Professor Zarina Rahman Khan, local government expert Tofail Ahmed and Janipop Chairman Nazmul Ahsan Kalimuallah.

“I would have been happy if someone from the citizens group had been included in the commission,” Manzoorul said.

The panel recommended 10 names to the president for the five-member EC. Of them, former secretary KM Nurul Huda was picked as the chief election commissioner and four others as commissioners on Monday night.

Manzoorul said he had proposed inclusion of a member of citizens group in the EC,  as the electoral process involves not only management and administration, but also many other aspects such as negotiations with contending parties, creating trust and ensuring transparency.

“Besides, money and power often play a role in influencing election outcome. Someone who has both theoretical and practical knowledge about these aspects would have been a valuable addition to the commission.”

The eminent educationist hopes the newly formed EC would try its best to create “space” for building confidence among all stakeholders.

“I will request the commission to plan a 100-day work strategy where it will focus on confidence building ahead of the next general elections. The commission can outline its plan for dialogue with political parties and on how to ensure transparency and accountability in the electoral process,” he added.

Headed by Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, the search panel includes Justice Obaidul Hassan, a High Court judge; Muhammed Sadique, chairman of Bangladesh Public Service Commission; Masud Ahmed, comptroller and auditor general of Bangladesh; Prof Syed Manzoorul Islam, trustee board member of Transparency International Bangladesh; and Shireen Akhter, pro-vice chancellor of Chittagong University.