Brahmanbaria: Noting that the search panel formed by the President is neutral, Law Minister Anisul Huq on Friday said it will work impartially to find out the right persons for constituting the next Election Commission (EC).

The minister made the remarks while talking to reporters after attending the biennial conference of Kasba Press Club.

Anisul Huq slammed BNP for criticising the search committee and asked the party to recall what it did in the past regarding the formation of the EC.

Earlier on Wednesday, President Abdul Hamid formed a six-member search committee headed by Appellate Division's Justice Syed Mahmud Hassan for proposing the names for constituting the next EC as the tenure of the current one will expire in February next.

The other members of the search panel include Justice Obaidul Hassan, Public Service Commission Chairman Muhammed Sadique, Dhaka University Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam, Chittagong University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Shireen Akhter, and Comptroller Auditor General Masud Ahmed.

BNP is opposing the search committee claiming it is not neutral as five out of its six members are controversial.

Speaking at a press conference, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday also said it is not possible to form a neutral Election Commission with the search committee.

Turning down BNP’s statement, the law minister said the President entrusted the search committee members with the responsibility to find out the capable persons for the new Commission knowing they will work independently.