Dhaka: A supplementary petition has been filed with the High Court seeking a stay on the activities of the six-member search committee formed by the President for reconstituting the new Election Commission (EC).

Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Eunus Ali Akond filed the petition on Saturday as a writ petition was earlier filed with the HC seeking its directives to formulate a law for constituting the EC.

Talking to reporters, Eunus said the formation of the search committee for reconstituting the new EC is contradictory to the article 118 (1) of the Constitution which stipulates: “There shall be an Election Commission for Bangladesh consisting of the Chief Election Commissioner and not more than four Election Commissioners and the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (if any) shall, subject to the provisions of any law made in that behalf, be made by the President”.

He said the recently formed search committee is illegal as the national charter speaks of a law for constituting the EC.  

Eunus also said he filed a writ petition with the HC on January 11 seeking its directives to formulate a law for constituting the EC and the petition was kept on Sunday’s cause list for hearing with the HC bench comprising Justice M Moinul Islam Chowdhury and Justice JBM Hassan.

Cabinet Secretary, Law Secretary and the EC were made respondent to the petition, he said.

President Abdul Hamid on Wednesday formed a six-member search committee, headed by Supreme Court's Appellate Division judge Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, for reconstituting the new Election Commission (EC).

The search committee will recommend two names against each post, including at least a woman, to the President within 10 working days for appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and other commissioners.

Earlier the President held a month-long dialogue with 31 registered political parties on the formation of a new Election Commission (EC). The talks ended on January 18.