BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday alleged that the search committee is working to form another Election Commission (EC) 'obedient' to the government like the outgoing one.

"The search committee has got a list of 322 people conducting their search. The point is that those who go to the Election Commission will be highly qualified and competent people.They're approached (by the authorities concerned) and then they give their consent," he said.

Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said many people are now going to the search committee to be the Election Commissioners and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) driven by emotion. 

Read: Next Election Commission: 322 names proposed to search committee published

"If these people come to the Election Commission, we can easily understand what will be the consequences of democracy, voting and elections in the country then?,” he said.

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Projonmo 71, a pro-BNP platform, arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, demanding a polls-time neutral government to hold the next general election in a fair and credible manner.

Rizvi said the search committee has been working to form a commission that will be worse than the outgoing KM Nurul Huda-led EC. 

"The previous search committee found one Huda (KM Nurul Huda). The search committee this time will find a another person worse than Huda. The elections of vote robbery, capturing polling stations, the elections without contest and the elections at night were held under the Huda-led Commission," he said.

The BNP leader feared that a commission will be formed this time with persons much more loyal to the government who will arrange elections in the evening instead of late night. 

He said their party is turning down in advance the EC to be formed with the recommendations of the current 'illegal' search committee. "All the activities of the illegitimate government are illegal. It has no relation with people and transparency.”

Read: Search committee part of a 'drama': BNP

Earlier on Monday, the Cabinet Division published 322 names which the political parties, professional bodies and individuals proposed to the search committee for the next Election Commission.

On February 5, a six-member search committee was formed under the "Appointments of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners Act-2022". The search committee will  propose 10 names to the President for appointing the new CEC and the Election Commissioners. 

Rizvi said thier party will going to call for intensifying their movement to ensure the fall of the Awami League regime and thus ensure a fair and acceptable election under a non-party neutral government.