Cabinet clears draft law overEC formation

The cabinet on Monday approved the draft of “Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners’ Appointment Act 2022”, aiming to formulate a law as per the constitution. 

The approval was given at a cabinet meeting held in Jatiya Sangsad with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The draft law includes the formation of a search committee to appoint the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners.

“A six-member search committee will be formed for the purpose. An Appellate Division judge nominated by the chief justice will lead the committee,” said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam while briefing reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat after the meeting.

“The search committee will recommend the names of eligible candidates before the president and then the head of the state will appoint the CEC and other election commissioners from the list.”  

As per the proposed law, all the appointed election commissioners must be at least 50 years old. Besides, they must have at least 20 years of working experience in government, semi-government, private or judicial positions.

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

The current Election Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda, is scheduled to end its five-year term in February.