Search committee to finalize 10 names today

The search committee is meeting today (Tuesday) to finalize the names of 10 candidates for the post of Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners. The meeting will be held at the Supreme Court's Judges Lounge at 4.30 pm today. The meeting will be chaired by Justice Obaidul Hasan, Chief of the Appellate Division of the Search Committee.

Earlier, after the meeting of the search committee on February 20, Justice Obaidul Hasan said, "We have held six meetings since the search committee was formed under the Election Commission Act." There is another meeting left. For the time being, we will be able to finish the work by holding the seventh meeting on 22nd February at 4.30 pm.

He said that, “we had four meetings with civil society representatives. You know, first a list of 322 names was published. After this list, four more prominent journalists expressed interest in talking to us. We called them and they have also given some names.”

He added that we did extend the time by one day for submitting names. Even then I said if any political party sends names, then I will consider. Some political organizations have sent out more names after the extension. Considering all the names, in the fifth meeting we finalized the names of 20 people.

The head of the search committee said, we are looking for the names of 10 people. Hopefully, we will get the final 10 names. I will send the names to the President after the last meeting on the 22nd.

In response to another question, the head of the search committee said, "I will not reveal the names of 10 people." This is the domain of the President. If it is given to the President and he tells me to publish it, then I will publish. It's his property and we have no law to disclose.

The meeting was attended by committee members Justice SM Quddus Zaman, former Election Commissioner Muhammad Sohul Hossain, writer-professor Anwara Syed Haque, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Muslim Chowdhury and Public Service Commission (PSC) chairman Sohrab Hossain.