Jatiya Party chief Ershad demands new law to form Election Commission

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad has demanded that a new law should be enacted to streamline complexities in appointing commissioners to the new Election Commission.

Speaking at a news conference in Dhaka on Saturday, he said there were 'limitations' in the legal structure to form the EC and those limitations create controversy before forming the commission every five years.

Referring to the related section of the Constitution, he said that “the president has the authority to appoint the head of EC and other election commissioners but nothing on the qualification or the process of appointment is mentioned in the Constitution."

The ousted military dictator said a law should be made on the formation of the EC.

"The law should have provisions to keep the EC completely independent with a separate secretariat," he said.

He said emphasis should be given on neutrality, honesty, and knowledge about election process in choosing election commissioners.

He did not take any question from the journalists.