The Search Committee has prepared a preliminary list of 20 candidates for the posts of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other Election Commissioners.

  Cabinet Secretary (Reforms and Coordination) Md Samsul Arefin informed the matter to BSS this afternoon saying that a preliminary list of 20 people has been prepared from the proposed names as per the qualifications given by the law at the 5th meeting of the search committee held today here with the presence of all its members.

  The final list would be prepared within the next two meetings, he said, adding that the next meeting of the search committee will be held tomorrow (Sunday) at 4.30 pm here. Search committee chief Justice Obaidul Hassan presided over the 5th meeting.

  Search committee members High Court Division Justice SM Kuddus Zaman, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury, Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman Mohammed Sohrab Hossain, former Election Commissioner Mohammed Sohul Hossain and Writer Prof Anwara Syed Haq joined the meeting.

  The search committee held its 4th meeting at the Judges' Lounge of the Bangladesh Supreme Court building on February 16.  Earlier, the search committee held meetings with 47 eminent personalities in four phases on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday last for receiving suggestions in forming the next EC.

  On Monday last, the Cabinet Division, which is providing secretarial support to the search committee, published 322 names which the political parties, professional bodies and individuals proposed to include in the search committee for formation of the next EC on its website.

  The search committee will have to propose 10 names to the President. Then the president will select five names for forming the next EC as per the law.

Source: BSS