Law Minister Anisul Huq on Wednesday said President Abdul Hamid has initiated dialogue with political parties to form a search committee to ultimately form the Election Commission (EC) and the next EC will be formed as per his decision.
"There is no scope of dispute about the formation of the EC. It will be formed as per the decision taken by the president as it is his responsibility. Even I want an act to form the EC. But now, there is no time left for this. It would not be right to issue an ordinance in this regard, bypassing parliament," the law minister said.
He said this while addressing as the chief guest the annual general meeting of the Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) in the capital, an official press release said.
Presided over by CRAB President Mizan Malik and conducted by General Secretary Alauddin Arif, the program was also addressed, among others, by Daily Jugantor Editor and former president of National Press Club Saiful Alam, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun and Dhaka Reporters Unity President Nazrul Islam Mithu.
Anisul Huq said the search committee will be formed with a senior justice of the Appellate Division, a justice from the High Court Division, chairman of the Public Service Commission and auditor and comptroller general. All of them hold constitutional posts. The remaining two will be from the civil society, he added.
“There will be no political person in this search committee. This search committee will nominate 10 persons and send the names to the president," the law minister further said.
While talking about the Digital Security Act, he said Bangladesh needs this law.
"I know there were instances of misuse of this act. But we have taken initiatives to stop such misuses. Now no journalists are arrested right after the filing of a case under this act. First authorities concerned scrutinize everything. This act has not been enacted to curb freedom of speech and press freedom," he added.