Political parties submit preferences for election commissioners

Representatives of several political parties flocked to the Cabinet Division offices at the Secretariat to submit their choices as next election commissioners to the president-formed search panel.

The Cabinet Division is providing secretarial support to the six-member committee led by Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain.

Additional Secretary Abdul Wadud said they have received sealed letters from 14 political parties until 11:30am. "Four parties submitted their preferences yesterday (Monday)."

After holding its first meeting on Saturday, the search panel asked the 31 political parties, who attended the Bangabhaban talks, to submit their choices by Tuesday.

Most of the political parties, including the ruling Awami League and BNP, have said they will forward their preferences to the panel.

But some of the parties, including the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), said if controversies will arise over election commissioners if political parties are allowed to name their preferences.

Around 12:30pm, a BNP delegation led by Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi arrived at the Secretariat followed by the Awami League delegation headed by Office Secretary Abdus Sobhan.

Opposition in the House Jatiya Party Co-Chairman GM Quader on Monday said they will also submit their suggestions.

JaSaD (Inu), Liberal Democratic Party, Khilafat Majslihs, Jomiyate Ulama-e Islam, Islami Oikkyojot, Islami Front, NAP-Mozaffar, Bangladesh Jatiya Party and Bangladesh Khelafat Andalan have already submitted their choices.

On Wednesday, President Md Abdul Hamid formed the search committee and gave them 10 working days to recommend names for the next EC. He will pick out the next CEC and election commissioners from the recommended names.