Bangladesh interim government assembles search committee to recommend EC commissioners

Appellate Division Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury leads the committee

The interim government has formed a search committee under the leadership of Appellate Division Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury to recommend commissioners for the next Election Commission.

The Cabinet Division issued a notice to the effect on Thursday.

The other members of the search committee are High Court Justice AKM Asaduzzaman, Auditor General and Comptroller Md Nurul Islam, Bangladesh Public Service Commission Chairman Prof Mobasser Monem, former Dhaka University Department of International Relations professor Dr Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar, and former Bangladesh Public Service Commission chairman Dr Zinnatun Nessa Tahmida Begum.

The committee was formed under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Appointment Act, 2022 and will perform its duties and functions accordingly, the Cabinet Division said.

It added that the Cabinet Division will also provide the necessary secretarial support to the inquiry committee to carry out its duties.

Under the law, the search committee can ask political parties and professional organisations to submit lists of recommendations for the posts.

After considering the qualifications, experience, skills, reputation, and any disqualifying aspects of potential candidates, the search panel will submit a list of 10 names to the president within 15 days.

The president will then appoint a chief election commissioner and four election commissioners from the list for a tenure of five years.

The Kazi Habibul Awal-led Election Commission of 2022 was the first to be appointed under the new act and was tasked with overseeing the 12th National Parliamentary Elections.

On Sept 5, after the government changeover, the Awal-led EC resigned.

The interim government, led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, has embarked on various state reforms since taking power. Following the reforms, the 13th national elections are to be held under the new EC.

The interim government has said that a timeline for the elections depends on the consensus of the political parties.

Law Advisor Asif Nazrul has said that the formation of the search committee was the first step on the path to the elections.

“This time, we will not hold a fake election. We will have a wonderful, free, impartial election,” he told reporters at the Secretariat on Tuesday.

REQUIREMENTS FOR EC COMMISSIONERS

There are three requirements for a person to be recommended for the posts of chief election commissioner and election commissioners. They are:

· They must be a citizen of Bangladesh

· They must be at least 50 years old

· They must have at least 20 years of working experience in a government, judicial, semi-public, private, or autonomous post or profession

WHAT DISQUALIFIES A CANDIDATE?

Under the law, six points can lead to a candidate being disqualified. They are:

· A court declares them unfit

· If they are declared bankruptand have not been discharged from liabilities

· If they become a citizen of a foreign country or pledge allegiance to a foreign country

· If they are convicted of a criminal offence involving moral turpitude and sentenced to imprisonment

· If they are convicted of any offence under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act-1973 or the Bangladesh Collaborators (Special Tribunals) Order-1972

· If they hold a position where they could profit from the affairs of the Republic, unless it is exempted under the law

WHO WERE THE PREVIOUS CHIEF COMMISSIONERS?

Bangladesh has had 13 chief election commissioners so far.

· Kazi Habibul Awal, who served from Feb 27, 2022 to Sept 5, 2024

· KM Nurul Huda, who served from Feb 15, 2017 to Feb 14, 2022

· Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, who served from Feb 9, 2012 to Feb 9, 2017

· Dr ATM Shamsul Huda, who served from Feb 5, 2007 to Feb 5, 2012

· Justice MA Aziz, who served from May 23, 2005 to Jan 21, 2007

· MA Sayed, who served from May 23, 2000 to May 22, 2005

· Mohammad Abu Hena, who served from Apr 9, 1996 to May 8, 2000

· Justice AJM Sadeq, who served from Apr 27, 1995 to Apr 6, 1996

· Justice Md Abdur Rouf, who served from Dec 25, 1990 to Apr 18, 1995

· Justice Sultan Hossain Khan, who served from Feb 17, 1990 to Dec 24, 1990

· Justice Chowdhury ATM Masud, who served from Feb 17, 1985 to Feb 17, 1990

· Justice AKM Nurul Islam, who served from Jul 8, 1977 to Feb 17, 1985

· Justice M Idris, who served from Jul 7, 1972 to Jul 7, 1977