New EC: JaPa demands law, submits names for search committee
The party believes there is enough time to enact a law before reconstituting the EC
Japa wants the law before the new EC is formed Bangla Tribune
Tribune Report
Publish : 20 Dec 2021, 04:20 PMUpdate : 03 Jan 2022, 12:03 PM
The Jatiya Party (JaPa), the main opposition in parliament, has demanded the enactment of a law on the formation of the Election Commission as stipulated in the constitution.
JaPa made the demand and two others during the first of a series of dialogues between President Abdul Hamid and political parties on the reconstitution of the Election Commission at Bangabhaban yesterday.
An eight-member JaPa delegation led by party Chairman GM Quader participated in the first dialogue, which began at 4:20pm and ended at around 6pm, according to President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin.
The other members of the delegation were Senior Co-Chairman Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud, Secretary General Mujibul Haque, Co-Chairman ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, Kazi Firoz Rashid, Syed Abul Hossain Babla, Salma Islam, Chief Whip of the main opposition party and JaPa presidium member Mashiur Rahman Ranga.
JaPa Chairman GM Quader addressed reporters after the meeting.
“We have submitted three proposals to the president. We focused on the formation of a new election commission by enacting laws in light of the constitution,” he said.
He added that JaPa believed there was sufficient time to enact the law related to the formation of the EC before the commission was reconstituted.
“If the government thinks there is not enough time to form a new law now, then the president can issue an ordinance and it can be turned into law later. If it is not possible to issue an ordinance and a search committee is formed as before, we have proposed the names of 4 people. But I am not telling you the names right now,” GM Quader further said.
JaPa sources said the delegation highlighted Section 118 (1) of the constitution, which stipulates that there shall be an Election Commission for Bangladesh consisting of the chief election commissioner and not more than four election commissioners.
They also said the party had proposed the enactment of another law to assist the Election Commission, as Article 126 of the constitution states that it is the duty of all executive authorities to assist the Election Commission in the discharge of its functions.
The appointment of the CEC and the election commissioners should be subject to the provisions of any law made on that behalf, according to the section.
The five-year tenure of the incumbent Commission, led by Chief Election Commission KM Nurul Huda, will expire on February 14 next year.
The new election commission will have to arrange the 12th national election between November 2023 and January 2024.
Law Minister Anisul Huq on November 29 said a bill would be placed in parliament in an upcoming session to enact a law on the formation of the Election Commission.
There are currently 39 registered political parties in Bangladesh, according to the EC website. Nine of the parties have representation in parliament, and they will be invited to talks with the president first.
In December 2016, President Abdul Hamid held a series of talks with registered political parties before the reconstitution of the EC.
Later, a six-member search committee was formed to recommend names for appointment as chief election commissioner and election commissioners.
The search committee sought five names from every political party, before making a shortlist of 10 names for the president to choose from.
The president then formed the present commission headed by KM Nurul Huda. The CEC and the election commissioners were sworn in on February 15, 2017.
In 2012, then President Zillur Rahman constituted the Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad-led Election Commission also through a search committee after holding meetings with political parties.
New EC: JaPa demands law, submits names for search committee
The Jatiya Party (JaPa), the main opposition in parliament, has demanded the enactment of a law on the formation of the Election Commission as stipulated in the constitution.
JaPa made the demand and two others during the first of a series of dialogues between President Abdul Hamid and political parties on the reconstitution of the Election Commission at Bangabhaban yesterday.
An eight-member JaPa delegation led by party Chairman GM Quader participated in the first dialogue, which began at 4:20pm and ended at around 6pm, according to President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin.
The other members of the delegation were Senior Co-Chairman Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud, Secretary General Mujibul Haque, Co-Chairman ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, Kazi Firoz Rashid, Syed Abul Hossain Babla, Salma Islam, Chief Whip of the main opposition party and JaPa presidium member Mashiur Rahman Ranga.
JaPa Chairman GM Quader addressed reporters after the meeting.
“We have submitted three proposals to the president. We focused on the formation of a new election commission by enacting laws in light of the constitution,” he said.
He added that JaPa believed there was sufficient time to enact the law related to the formation of the EC before the commission was reconstituted.
Also Read - GM Quader finds EC dysfunctional
“If the government thinks there is not enough time to form a new law now, then the president can issue an ordinance and it can be turned into law later. If it is not possible to issue an ordinance and a search committee is formed as before, we have proposed the names of 4 people. But I am not telling you the names right now,” GM Quader further said.
JaPa sources said the delegation highlighted Section 118 (1) of the constitution, which stipulates that there shall be an Election Commission for Bangladesh consisting of the chief election commissioner and not more than four election commissioners.
They also said the party had proposed the enactment of another law to assist the Election Commission, as Article 126 of the constitution states that it is the duty of all executive authorities to assist the Election Commission in the discharge of its functions.
The appointment of the CEC and the election commissioners should be subject to the provisions of any law made on that behalf, according to the section.
The five-year tenure of the incumbent Commission, led by Chief Election Commission KM Nurul Huda, will expire on February 14 next year.
The new election commission will have to arrange the 12th national election between November 2023 and January 2024.
Also Read - GM Quader sees no change in polling centre-capturing culture
Law Minister Anisul Huq on November 29 said a bill would be placed in parliament in an upcoming session to enact a law on the formation of the Election Commission.
There are currently 39 registered political parties in Bangladesh, according to the EC website. Nine of the parties have representation in parliament, and they will be invited to talks with the president first.
In December 2016, President Abdul Hamid held a series of talks with registered political parties before the reconstitution of the EC.
Later, a six-member search committee was formed to recommend names for appointment as chief election commissioner and election commissioners.
The search committee sought five names from every political party, before making a shortlist of 10 names for the president to choose from.
The president then formed the present commission headed by KM Nurul Huda. The CEC and the election commissioners were sworn in on February 15, 2017.
In 2012, then President Zillur Rahman constituted the Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad-led Election Commission also through a search committee after holding meetings with political parties.