Majority of dozen citizens for choosing non-partisan individuals
Majority of the dozen “distinguished citizens” have recommended picking those who are non-partisan as the next election commissioners.
The search committee held a meeting with them seeking their opinions on how to choose the next election commissioners as the president has asked the committee to recommend names of prospective election commissioners.
Some of the citizens have submitted their recommendations in writing while others gave their opinions verbally in the meeting, outlining criteria for selecting the prospective election commissioners.
The criteria which have been recommended for the potential election commissioners include: They must not have any past record of being involved in active politics, must retire from the service at least three years back (in case of retired government officials or the armed forces) and they must not have any record of moral turpitude, and financial and sex scandal, according to some of the dozen citizens whom Prothom Alo contacted after the meeting.
Head of the search committee Appellate Division judge Syed Mahmud Hassan chaired the meeting.
The cabinet division is offering the secretarial services to the search committee. Accordingly, the cabinet secretary attends the committee meeting and is playing the role of de facto spokesperson of the committee.
“The opinion of the majority participants is to pick those who are not partisans,” cabinet secretary Shafiul Alam told newsmen after a meeting of the president-formed search committee with the eminent citizens at the Supreme Court’s judges lounge in the capital on Monday.
The 12 “distinguished citizens” are former High Court judge Md Abdur Rashid, professor AK Azad Chowdhury, professor Serajul Islam Choudhury, professor SMA Fayez, former caretaker government adviser Sultana Kamal, former chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda, former election commissioner Sohul Hussain, former election commissioner Sakhawat Hussain, local government expert Tofail Ahmed, secretary of Shushanor Jonno Nagorik Badiul Alam Majumdar, Dhaka University professor Abul Quasem Fazlul Huq and former inspector general of police Nurul Huda.
“The eminent citizens have put forth invaluable suggestions about the criteria for choosing prospective election commissioners. The committee has recorded their suggestions,” said Shafiul Alam.
The search committee also invited five more noted citizens for consultation at the Supreme Court judges lounge on 1 February (Wednesday), the cabinet secretary told newsmen.
They are daily Samakal editor Golam Sarwar, daily The Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam, former chief election commissioner Abu Hena, former military officer Abdur Rashid and lawyer Rokanuddin Mahmud.
The search committee members will also hold a meeting among themselves on Tuesday at 4:00pm.
The cabinet secretary said the citizens suggested picking of honest, competent and neutral individuals for the prospective election commissioners.
Asked whether the dozen citizens put forth any name, the cabinet secretary said, “They haven’t come here to propose names, they rather are to put forth recommendations.”
When approached by newsmen after the meeting, Dhaka University professor emeritus Serajul Islam Chowdhury and DU’s former vice chancellor SMA Faiz declined to comment.
But some of them have talked to newsmen.
Former Dhaka University vice chancellor AK Azad Chowdhury said, “Those who maintain patriotism, uphold the liberation war values, have set example of sacrifice should be recommended as prospective election commissioners.”
Former chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda said those who will be recommended must not have any political affiliation in the past, must be competent, courageous and straightforward and will strictly enforce the electoral laws.
“We all have told the meeting that such a commission should be proposed which will primarily create confidence among the people.”
He said it will be very difficult to discharge the duty for a commission which earn mistrust of people at the very beginning. Lack of confidence is created only when we appoint people without considering the background of the individuals.
“Such individuals should be recommended who were never actively involved in politics throughout their lives and who were never involved either in student politics or any party-linked professional bodies,” said Shamsul.
Asked whether the search committee will disclose the proposed names or if the committee sought any names from the dozen citizens, the former chief election commissioner replied in the negative and said, “Even we will not be informed.”
He said the search committee asked them as to how they can choose people and what should be the criteria.
Dhaka University’s another professor Abul Quasem Fazlul Haque said “Some of us have said there is still a scope to enact a law [to appoint election commissioners] as nothing will go wrong if there is no commission for one or two month. It will be better if the law is enacted.”
Citizens for Good Governance secretary Badiul Alam Majumder said, “We have advised them to prepare a short list of prospective election commissioners and the list should be made public. Even the criteria based on which they were selected should also be made public.”
He said the search committee should also disclose which of our suggestions they will keep and which not.
“If the election commissioners are appointed in a transparent manner, majority of the people will have faith in the commission,” he added.
Local government expert Tofail Ahmed said, “We have recommended setting up of criteria for choosing individuals and for keeping transparent the process of picking prospective election commissioners which will encourage people’s confidence."
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