The search body formed by President Abdul Hamid to recommend names for constituting new Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday exchanged views with four eminent citizens.

The eminent citizens — former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Mohammad Abu Hena, jurist Rokanuddin Mahmud, daily Shamokal Editor Golam Sarwar and Daily Star Mahfuz Anam — expressed their opinions at the meeting at Supreme Court judges’ lounge in the city.

After the meeting, Cabinet Division Additional Secretary Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan told journalists that they have suggested the search committee to recommend names of efficient, honest, acceptable and nonpartisan persons for the EC.

He said the search committee will hold a meeting at 4:00pm tomorrow (Thursday) to finalise names for the new EC. It may be possible for the committee to finalize its proposal by February 8, he added.

If needed, the search committee may include names beyond those proposed by the political parties in its recommendation to the President, he added.

Earlier, the body held a meeting with four eminent citizen of the country at about 11:00am at the Supreme Court Judges’ Lounge.

On 30 January, the committee invited the important citizens to join the meeting.

Earlier, on the day, the search committee held a two-hour meeting with 12 distinguished citizens at the same venue.

They are former High Court Division Judge Abdur Rashid, former Dhaka University vice-chancellors AK Azad Chowdhury and SMA Faiz, Prof Emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury, DU supernumerary Prof Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, former chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda, former election commissioners Muhammed Sohul Hussain and Muhammad Sakhawat Hussain, lawyer and rights campaigner Sultana Kamal, local government expert Tofayel Ahmed, former inspector general of police Nurul Huda and Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik Secretary Badiul Alam Majumder.

During their discussion, the noted citizens suggested forming the next EC with honest, competent, nonpartisan and neutral people. 

On 25 January, President Abdul Hamid formed a six-member search committee, headed by Supreme Court's Appellate Division judge Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, for reconstituting the Election Commission (EC).

The search committee held its first meeting on Saturday asking each of the 31 political parties which took part in talks with the President over formation of the next EC to propose five names by 11:00am on Tuesday.

The committee also requested 12 noted citizens to give their opinions on the EC formation at its next meeting today.

However, no party submitted any name to the search panel as of Monday afternoon.

The cabinet secretary said political parties will be asked to submit names until 3:00pm Tuesday.

‘Four more hours for submitting the names has been extended. The political parties can submit names to the Cabinet Division by 3:00pm.’