The new Election Commission led by newly-appointed Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal took office on Monday after being sworn in the previous day.

CEC Awal entered his office on the fourth floor of the commission headquarters around 9:45am on Monday.  Election Commissioner Brigadier General Ahasan Habib Khan, Rasheda Sultana, Anisur Rahman and Md Alamgir followed.

The new EC was welcomed by officials of the commission including Additional Election Commission Secretary Ashique Kumar Debnath. The appointment was made after the search committee led by Justice Obaidul Hassan shortlisted 10 candidates from the list of names proposed by registered political parties, eminent citizens and individuals.

On January 30, the government published the gazette on the “Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Appointment Act 2022” after President Md Abdul Hamid signed the bill the previous day.

On January 27, lawmakers passed the bill in parliament paving the way for a legal framework for pointing the chief election commissioner (CEC) and other election commissioners. The new Election Commission, formed by the President on February 26, will conduct polls for the next five years including the 12th parliamentary elections.