The nominations for the chief election commissioner and other commissioners submitted to the Election Commission Search Committee will be published on the website on Monday, according to the chief of the committee.
Justice Obaidul Hassan disclosed the matter during a meeting with eminent citizens at the Supreme Court Judges’ Conference Room on Sunday.
He said all the names would be published, regardless of how many.
The justice also said that they had extended the deadline for submission of names to 5pm on Monday.
The committee chief described BNP as a large party and hoped that they would give a positive response and participate in the democratic process.
The BNP was among the parties that did not come to President Md Abdul Hamid’s talks on the formation of the EC.
The party’s leaders said they would not submit names because they believe the search committee would nominate candidates “as per the government’s wish”.
Eminent citizens took part in the meeting with the search committee at the conference room of the Bangladesh Supreme Court with head of the search committee Justice Obaidul Hassan in the chair at 4pm.
After the meeting, writer and activist Shahriar Kabir said the process of EC formation should not be placed under tight time constraints. The names which have been submitted by the political parties, organisations and individuals should be thoroughly checked.
He said they have proposed that the search committee to take its time, adding that they want the most deserving candidates to be on the commission.
Former election commissioner Brigadier General Sakhawat Hossain said the new EC should have brave members as they will need to win people’ trust.
He said: “The country’s election process and commission has been destroyed already. Now it needs those who can pull it back. Further bias in the selection of the Election Commission will bring no benefit.
Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) General Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said the committee should hold a public hearing on the proposed candidates for the EC. The primary list should be of 20 people, including at least five women.
He also suggested the committee make public the method they are following to select the names of the election commissioners and chief election commissioner.
Educationist Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, cultural personality Nasir Uddin Yusuf Bachchu, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote President Golam Quddus, Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Quazi Sazzad Ali Zahir, former additional inspector general of police Nurul Alam, lyricist and music composer Gazi Mazharul Anwar, Bangladesh Liberation War Museum Trustee Mofidul Hoque, SHUJAN Secretary Dr. Badiul Alam Majumder, water resources management and climate change expert Prof Dr Aninun Nishat, former Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain, economist Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Projonmo 71 President Asif Munir, Prof Dr Nuzhat Choudhury, educationist Prof Muntasir Mamoon, writer and journalist Shahriar Kabir and economist Dr Tofael Ahmed were among those at the meeting.
