6-member search committee set up

The interim government has constituted a six-member search committee to recommend candidates for the next Election Commission (EC), which is responsible for overseeing free and fair elections.

The committee, outlined in a Thursday gazette signed by cabinet secretary Dr Sheikh Abdur Rashid, is headed by Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury from the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.

Justice AKM Asaduzzaman of the High Court Division, comptroller and auditor general Md Nurul Islam, Public Service Commission chairman Mobasser Momen, former Dhaka University professor Dr Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar and former PSC chairman Prof ZN Tahmida Begum are also on the committee.

This selection has been done in compliance with the 2022 Election Commission Appointment Act-2022, which mandates the inclusion of judges, key officials and two prominent citizens (one of whom is a woman).

In accordance with section 3 of the law, the search committee will recommend the names of individuals for appointment of the chief election commissioner (CEC) and other commissioners.

The Cabinet Division will lend secretarial support to the search committee.

The committee has 15 working days to submit a list of 10 potential candidates to the President, who will then appoint the CEC and four other commissioners from this list.

This development is seen as part of broader democratic reforms introduced by the interim government under Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus.

With ongoing calls from political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, for electoral reforms, this committee is tasked with ensuring an impartial Commission capable of fostering fair elections.

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