🇧🇩 Forming Election Commission

[Saif]

Date Occurred: Oct 30, 2024

Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury to head EC search committee

Clockwise from left: Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, Justice AKM Asaduzzaman, Prof CR Abrar, Prof Zinnatunnesa Tahmida Begum, Prof Mobasser Monem and Md Nurul Islam.

The government has formed a six-member search committee, chaired by Appellate Division Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, to select eligible candidates for a new Election Commission (EC).

The committee will recommend two candidates for each position, including the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners.

According to government sources, the committee will include Justice AKM Asaduzzaman from the High Court Division, nominated by the chief justice, and two distinguished citizens appointed by the president.

These individuals are former PSC Chairman Professor Zinnatunnesa Tahmida Begum and retired Dhaka University professor CR Abrar. Additionally, under the law, Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh Md Nurul Islam and the Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Mobassher Monem, will serve as ex-officio members.

Speaking on the matter at the secretariat earlier today, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul stated that the process for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election has begun. He mentioned that a search committee is being formed to constitute the Election Commission. An official notification will soon be issued after being signed by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.

The law adviser noted that there are numerous questions about the voter list, describing previous elections as fraudulent. This time, the voter list will be updated to ensure transparency.

The Awami League government was ousted on August 5 following a student-led uprising, and on the following day, President Mohammed Sahabuddin dissolved the 12th Parliament. On August 8, an interim government led by Yunus was established.

On September 5, the Election Commission, led by Kazi Habibul Awal, resigned before the end of its term. This commission had been sworn in on February 27, 2022.

The law for the appointment of the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners specifies that a six-member search committee will be formed by the president to establish the Election Commission.

This committee is to include an Appellate Division judge nominated by the chief justice (who will serve as committee chair), a High Court Division judge nominated by the chief justice, the comptroller and auditor general, the chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), and two distinguished citizens appointed by the president, one of whom must be a woman.

According to the law, the search committee must provide its recommendations to the president within 15 working days.​

 

[Saif]

Who are the EC search committee members? Let's find out

A gazette revealing the members of this committee was released today

www.thedailystar.net

Who are the EC search committee members? Let's find out

Clockwise from left: Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, Justice AKM Asaduzzaman, Prof CR Abrar, Prof Zinnatunnesa Tahmida Begum, Prof Mobasser Monem and Md Nurul Islam

The interim government yesterday formed a six-member search committee to constitute a new Election Commission.

A gazette revealing the members of this committee was released today.

Who are the members of the said committee and what do we know about them?

Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury

Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury was appointed to lead the search committee. He was elevated as an Appellate Division judge on August 13 this year from the High Court Division.

Starting as an advocate of a district court on March 3, 1985, he became a High Court lawyer on May 17, 1987. On August 27, 2003, he was appointed as an additional judge of the HC Division, and later on August 27, 2005, was appointed its judge.

Zubayer completed his bachelors and master's in law from Dhaka University. He also holds a second masters in international law from the UK.


Justice AKM Asaduzzaman

Justice AKM Asaduzzaman enrolled as an advocate of the district court on September 5, 1983. He joined the HC Division on September 5, 1985, and the Appellate Division on October 25, 2001.

He was promoted as additional judge of the HC Division on August 27, 2003, and appointed its judge on August 27, 2005.

Asaduzzaman obtained his honours and master's in law from Rajshahi University.

Nurul Islam

Nurul Islam Islam joined the Bangladesh Civil Service in December 1989 as an audit and accounts cadre of the 8th batch.

He assumed office as comptroller and auditor general of Bangladesh on July 26, 2023. Prior to this position, he served as the controller general of accounts for around three years.

He received the National Integrity Award from the Ministry of Finance in 2022.

He has also served as the controller general of defence finance, additional director-general (finance), and senior finance controller (army) at Dhaka cantonment.

He completed his honours and master's in public administration from Dhaka University.

Prof Mobasser Monem

Mobasser Monem was appointed chairman of Bangladesh Public Service Commission on October 9.

He holds a PhD from the University of London and has completed postdoctoral research at both Sussex University and the University of Heidelberg. He also serves as a professor at DU's governance and public management. His research expertise lies in governance, public sector innovation, and comparative public policy.

Monem has authored two books and published over 100 scholarly articles.

He was a visiting professor at Korea University in South Korea, where he taught public management and policy. He was also a teaching and research fellow at University of Heidelberg in Germany and a visiting research fellow at University of Sussex in the UK.

Prof CR Abrar

Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar, widely known as CR Abrar, is a retired professor of international relations at DU, a rights activist, and a migration expert.

He currently serves as the president of Odhikar, a human rights organisation; and executive director of Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit.

He has published in national and international journals on labour recruitment industry, social protection, and rights of Rohingya refugees.

He is a strong voice against the Digital Security Act and later the Cyber Security Act.

Prof ZN Tahmida Begum

Zinnatun Nessa Tahmida Begum, a retired professor of botany at DU, was the first ever woman chair of Bangladesh Public Service Commission.

Zinnatun, a pro-BNP White Panel member, was also a pro-VC and syndicate member of DU.

She is also a fellow of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences and a member of the Bangladesh Society of Microbiologists.

She also served as a Trustee Board member of Bangladesh National Museum and is also an editorial board member of the Journal of Science Foundation, published by Bangladesh Science Foundation.​

 

[Saif]

Search committee seeks names for CEC, ECs by Nov 7

The search committee has invited political parties, professional bodies, and individuals to propose names for the positions of chief election commissioner and election commissioners by November 7 for the formation of the next Election Commission.

www.thedailystar.net

Search committee seeks names for CEC, ECs by Nov 7

The search committee has invited political parties, professional bodies, and individuals to propose names for the positions of chief election commissioner and election commissioners by November 7 for the formation of the next Election Commission.

A circular, signed by Md Nazrul Islam, joint secretary of the Cabinet Division, was issued in this regard yesterday.

"Political parties and professional organisations can propose a maximum of five names for the positions of chief election commissioner and other election commissioners by 5:00pm on November 7. Interested individuals may also submit their names," according to the circular.

Nominations, along with complete bio-data, should be sent directly to the Cabinet Division or via email at gfp_sec@cabinet.gov.bd, the circular said.

The circular further added that under Section 3 of the Election Commission Appointment Act-2022, the search committee is responsible for recommending candidates for the positions of CEC and other ECs.

Before the first meeting of the search committee, Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid told journalists that the new EC would consist of "honest, fearless, and efficient individuals".

"I am not a member of the search committee, but we will provide administrative support as needed," he added.

The cabinet secretary explained that the committee has discussed its approach and will outline the next steps in forming the EC.

When asked about the timeline, he said the committee is required to submit its recommendations within 15 working days, after which the president will finalise the appointments.

On October 31, the interim government published the gazette notification for the six-member search committee tasked with proposing names for the next EC.

The committee is headed by Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.

Its other members include Justice AKM Asaduzzaman of the High Court Division, Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh Md Nurul Islam, Public Service Commission Chairman Mobasser Momen, former Dhaka University Prof CR Abrar, and former PSC chairman Prof Zeenatun Nesa Tahmida Begum.​

 

[Saif]

Search committee to appoint honest, fearless EC members: cabinet secretary

The new Election Commission will be composed of "honest, fearless, and efficient individuals," Cabinet Secretary Dr Sheikh Abdur Rashid said today, following the inaugural meeting of the search committee chaired by Appellate Division Judge Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury

www.thedailystar.net

Search committee to appoint honest, fearless EC members: cabinet secretary

Sheikh Abdur Rashid

The new Election Commission will be composed of "honest, fearless, and efficient individuals," Cabinet Secretary Dr Sheikh Abdur Rashid said today, following the inaugural meeting of the search committee chaired by Appellate Division Judge Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury.

While briefing reporters, Rashid clarified his role, saying, "I am not a member of the Search Committee, but we will provide administrative assistance as needed."

He further noted that the committee had discussed its approach and will determine the next steps in forming the Election Commission.

When asked about the timeline for the commission's formation, Rashid explained that the committee is mandated to submit its recommendations within 15 working days, after which the president will finalise the appointment of the Election Commission.

The interim government established this six-member Search Committee on October 31 to recommend candidates for the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners.

The committee is expected to propose two candidates for each position.

Apart from Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, the committee includes Justice AKM Asaduzzaman of the High Court Division, Comptroller and Auditor General Md Nurul Islam, Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman Mobasser Monem, former Dhaka University International Relations Professor Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar, and former PSC chair Professor Zinnatun Nessa Tahmida Begum.

A notification regarding the committee's formation was issued by the Cabinet Division on Thursday, outlining its mandate to ensure that the selection process adheres to legal standards and prioritises integrity and efficiency in its choices for the new Election Commission.​