Most of the political parties, including the Awami League (AL) and Jatiya Party (JP-Ershad), which held talks with the President to form the next Election Commission (EC) will submit names to the search committee within the stipulated time. However, the BNP is yet to decide whether it would provide names to the panel.
Earlier in the day, the search committee urged the 31 registered political parties, which had taken part in the talks with the President, to submit names of five prospective election commissioners of their choice. It requested the parties to submit the names to the Cabinet Division’s additional secretary, who is carrying out the secretarial job of the search committee, by 11am on January 31.
After the search committee’s first meeting at the judges’ lounge of the Supreme Court, this correspondent spoke to central leaders of the AL, BNP, JP and other political parties.
The BNP secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, said they are yet to decide whether to submit a list of names or not. “The whole process of forming the next Election Commission is nothing but an eyewash by the AL-led government and that’s why we are considering whether to provide a list of names for forming the EC,” he told The Independent.  
Earlier, at a city programme, Fakhrul expressed doubts about the search committee being able to form a neutral EC. “We have pretty much a clear idea what this search committee will deliver. If their activities are to reflect the people’s desire, they must rise above petty political interests. I don’t know whether they can do it and not very hopeful about it,” he added.
Talking to this correspondent, AL joint general secretary Abdur Rahman said the ruling party would provide a list of names to help the search committee form the next EC.
The JP co-chairman, GM Quader, told this correspondent that they too would submit names. He also hailed the process of forming the EC. This correspondent also spoke to leaders of other political parties that had taken part in talks with the President. They said they would provide a list of names after discussing the issue in their respective party forums.
The tenure of the present EC ends on February 8.