Search panel likely to finalise 10 names for next EC today

President will form 5-man EC from among the 10

The search committee is likely to finalise today names from among the 20 shortlisted and submit the list to the president for forming the next Election Commission (EC), sources said. 
In all, 125 names were proposed by 25 registered political parties. 
The six-member search committee will meet at the judges' lounge of the Supreme Court at 4pm.
The sources also said that the committee would finally submit 10 names to the President, who will then pick five names to form the EC to oversee the 2019 general election. 
The search committee will place its recommendations to the President either on February 6 or 7, it was learnt.
The search committee held two separate meetings with eminent personalities yesterday (Wednesday). Four of them gave their opinion to the committee. Later, they told the media that they have full faith in the search committee and hoped that it would recommend the best names to the President.
Abu Hena, a former chief election commissioner, said: “The next election commissioners have to be competent and honest, and they must remain strong to keep themselves outside political influence.”
Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud said: “It will be a great challenge for the new EC to hold the polls under a political government.”
On a previous occasion, the then EC organised parliamentary election under a caretaker government. The caretaker government did not interfere with the working of the EC. So, the EC should be formed with non-political persons, he noted.

Daily Samakal editor, Golam Sarwar, said they have “confidence” in the search committee that it will come up with “good proposals” for the next batch of election commissioners. “We hope the search committee will send competent names to the President,” he noted.
He also said that the committee should be more careful about the post of chief election commissioner. 
If the CEC is not a strong, capable, skilled and experienced person, he/she will prove to be a failure. 
The next EC should be strong for the greater interest of the country, he added.
Daily Star editor and publisher, Mahfuz Anam, also echoed the words of Sarwar and hoped that the next commission will play a bold role in discharging its duties.
After the meeting, the additional secretary of the Cabinet Division, Abdul Wadud, told reporters that the four personalities suggested that the EC should be composed of individuals with a clean image, administrative skill, physical and mental capacity to fulfill their duties, and the ability to stand up under pressure.
Yesterday’s meeting with the second batch of civil society leaders took place in the backdrop of the search committee shortlisting 20 names from among the 125 recommended by political parties as potential CEC and other election commissioners.
On Monday, the committee held talks with 12 other representatives of the civil society.
President Abdul Hamid formed the six-member search committee, headed by Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, after holding a series of talks with 31 registered political parties.
The tenure of the present EC, headed by Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, ends this month. 

Search panel likely to finalise 10 names for next EC today

President will form 5-man EC from among the 10

The search committee is likely to finalise today names from among the 20 shortlisted and submit the list to the president for forming the next Election Commission (EC), sources said. In all, 125 names were proposed by 25 registered political parties. The six-member search committee will meet at the judges lounge of the Supreme Court at 4pm. The sources also said that the committee would finally submit 10 names to the President, who will then pick five names to form the EC to oversee the 2019 general election. The search committee will place its recommendations to the President either on February 6 or 7, it was learnt. The search committee held two separate meetings with eminent personalities yesterday (Wednesday). Four of them gave their opinion to the committee. Later, they told the media that they have full faith in the search committee and hoped that it would recommend the best names to the President. Abu Hena, a former chief election commissioner, said: The next election commissioners have to be competent and honest, and they must remain strong to keep themselves outside political influence. Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud said: It will be a great challenge for the new EC to hold the polls under a political government. On a previous occasion, the then EC organised parliamentary election under a caretaker government. The caretaker government did not interfere with theworking of the EC. So, the EC should be formed with non-political persons, he noted. Daily Samakal editor, Golam Sarwar, said they have confidence in the search committee that it will come up with good proposals for the next batch of election commissioners. We hope the search committee will send competent names to the President, he noted. He also said that the committee should be more careful about the post of chief election commissioner. If the CEC is not a strong, capable, skilled and experienced person, he/she will prove to be a failure. The next EC should be strong for the greater interest of the country, he added. Daily Star editor and publisher, Mahfuz Anam, also echoed the words of Sarwar and hoped that the next commission will play a bold role in discharging its duties. After the meeting, the additional secretary of the Cabinet Division, Abdul Wadud, told reporters that the four personalities suggested that the EC should be composed of individuals with a clean image, administrative skill, physical and mental capacity to fulfill their duties, and the ability to stand up under pressure. Yesterdays meeting with the second batch of civil society leaders took place in the backdrop of the search committee shortlisting 20 names from among the 125 recommended by political parties as potential CEC and other election commissioners. On Monday, the committee held talks with 12 other representatives of the civil society. President Abdul Hamid formed the six-member search committee, headed by Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, after holding a series of talks with 31 registered political parties. The tenure of the present EC, headed by Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, ends this month.