Cabinet clears draft law for EC formation

The Cabinet approved the draft of a new law for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners.

The approval came at the regular Cabinet meeting held at the Cabinet Room of the Jatiya Sangsad with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair on Monday.

Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam later briefed the media at the Secretariat after the meeting.

He said, “Final approval was given to adopt a law over the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners.”

As per the proposed law, a search committee will be constituted taking approval from the president regarding forming the Election Commission, he said.

He added that the search committee will recommend the names of suitable candidates before the President to appoint the CEC and other election commissioners.

Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid started a dialogue with registered political parties on December 20 last to discuss the issues related to the constitution of the Election Commission ahead of the 12th general election to be held at the end of 2023 or early 2024.

Earlier, the last two election commissions, headed by Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed and KM Nurul Huda, were constituted through the search committees formed by the president following his dialogues with the political parties.

ARR