Cabinet Division on Monday published 322 names that were suggested for the next Election Commission.

The names were suggested to the president's search committee by political parties, professional bodies, eminent citizens and individuals. Former bureaucrats, retired judges and retired army officers dominated the list of 322 individuals.

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Academics, lawyers, retired police officers and journalists are among the professionals  to make the list. 

The full list can be accessed online at: https://cabinet.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/cabinet.portal.gov.bd/notices/f1b0963f_4882_4020_b479_fb9d83ef7823/List.pdf

A six-member search committee, led by Appellate Division Justice Obaidul Hasan, was formed to suggest the names of the Chief Election Commissioner and other election commissioners.

A gazette in this regard was issued on February 5.

The other members of the committee are High Court Division Justice SM Kuddus Zaman, the Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh Md Muslim Chowdhury, Chairman of the Public Service Commission Md Sohrab Hossain, former election commissioner Muhammad Sohul Hussain and noted writer Anwara Syed Haque.

The committee will perform responsibility as per the Appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners Bill 2022.

On January 27, parliament passed the “Appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners Bill-2022".

Though the Constitution suggests the appointment of the CEC and other election commissioners under a law, the law was not formulated in the past.

READ: BNP is opposing election commission law to embarrass the govt: Hanif

Article 118 (1) of the Constitution states, “There shall be an Election Commission for Bangladesh consisting of 1[the Chief Election Commissioner and not more than four Election Commissioners] and the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (if any) shall, subject to the provisions of any law made in that behalf, be made by the President.”

The Cabinet Division is providing secretarial support to the search committee.