Dhaka -The BNP on Friday day questioned the neutrality of search committee formed by the President to constitute a new Election Commission (EC) and claimed that forming a neutral EC is not possible by this search committee.
“The search committee was formed with such personalities that there is no scope to consider it non-partisan or neutral. Expectation of election of non-partisan, impartial, honest, brave and eligible persons as chairman or members of the next EC would be futile,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir while addressing a press conference at party central office.He alleged that the search committee has been filled with those loyal to the ruling Awami League family and rewarded by the government to help fulfill their desires. It not only has made it controversial, but also set another example of ignoring public opinion, he said.
Mirza Alamgir came up with the remark at a press briefing while expressing the party’s official reaction over the search committee.
He called upon the people to remain alert about the government’s plot to influence the next election and get united to force it to hold a neutral election.
He strongly condemned and protested the government’s autocratic attitude and said the government wants for form another subservient Election Commission like the one led by incumbent Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad.
Describing the backgrounds of the committee members, he said the committee was formed headed by Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, who had led the similar search committee last time. It means that the government wants to appoint another Rakibuddin Commission like loyal and incapable EC, he said.
He described another member and high court justice as a former leader of Chhatra League, the student organization of the AL and a former leader of AL backed lawyers forum. He also claimed that his father Akhlakur Rahman was a central leader of the AL and his younger brother is serving a assistant private secretary of the Prime Minister.
Alamgir accused the chairman of public service commission Dr Mohammed Sadiq of serving as secretary of what he said controversial EC during the January 5 2014 general elections and appointed as chairman of PSC on political consideration after his retirement.
He also termed the lone female member of the search committee as a former leaders of Cox’s Bazar AL and a pro-AL teacher leader in Chittagong University.
About comptroller and auditor general, he said as a government official under a political government has no capacity to do anything against will of the government and he is no a barrier to fulfill the desire of the government.
Asked whether the BNP was rejecting the committee, Fakhrul said there is no matter to reject or not reject it. “We are just expressing our opinion on the search committee. The issue will come up once the Election Commission is formed,” he added.
President Abdul Hamid on Wednesday formed the search committee to hunt for the potential Election Commissioners to reconstitute the election governing body ahead of the next parliament elections after consultation with all political parties.
Appellate Division’s Justice Syed Mahmud Hassan is heading the panel comprised of Justice Obaidul Hassan, Public Service Commission chairman Muhammed Sadique, Dhaka University Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam, Chittagong University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Shireen Akhter, and Comptroller Auditor General Masud Ahmed.
The President formed the panel after holding a series of talks with 31 political parties including BNP the arch rival of the Awami League.
The process of dialogue was initiated after BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia floated the proposal for talks regarding formation of the search committee.
Senior leaders—Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, among other were present at the press conference. – Staff Reporter
