AL expects new EC to be formed under new law

The ruling Awami League (AL) has expressed its hope that the new Election Commission (EC) to be formed under the new law after the term of current EC headed by KM Nurul Huda ends. Obaidul Quader, general secretary of the party, said that the draft law has already been approved in the cabinet.

He came up with the remarks at a press conference at the party’s central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital on Monday (January 17) evening.

Earlier, a 10-member delegation led by party president Sheikh Hasina, also Prime Minister of Bangladesh, took part in a dialogue with the President at Bangabhaban.

Obaidul Quader said an appropriate law could be enacted for the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other Election Commissioners (EC) subject to the provisions of Article 118 of the constitution. As there is no such law at present, in accordance with the provisions of Article 118 of the constitution, the President has no obligation to abide by any law other than the constitution in appointing CEC and other election commissioners.

“However, in order to uphold the constitutional consciousness, the law is required to determine the qualifications of the Chief Election Commissioner and other election commissioners and to determine their appointment process. Any law on the formation of the EC ¬¬will be a special kind of law according to the constitutional provisions.”

He said, “There was no specific precedent in our political culture for enacting this particular type of law. The only Bangladesh Awami League to establish a political consensus on the formation of EC has established a constitutional norm and political practice. This constitutional practice is the formation of EC on the basis of the views and participation of all through the formation of ‘Search Committee’/‘Inquiry Committee’.”