Stakeholders urge reform to EC appointment law for fair elections

Stakeholders, including political leaders, government advisers, and experts, have criticized the current law governing the appointment of the Election Commission (EC), calling it flawed and inadequate for forming a fair and neutral EC. 

They proposed reforms to address these issues during a dialogue titled "Discussing the Appointment Process of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners," organised by Democracy International in the capital on Saturday.

Badiul Alam Majumdar, head of the Election Commission Reform Committee, condemned the 2022 law for allowing biased appointments and noted that the previous EC failed to adhere to the constitution. He recommended forming the EC through political consensus and ensuring transparency in the process.

Brigadier General (Retd.) M Sakhawat Hossain, adviser to the Interim Government, emphasised the crucial role of a neutral government in enabling the EC to function effectively. He also proposed a three-step search committee for appointing new election commissioners.

Md Abdul Alim, principal director of Democracy International, presented a policy brief underscoring that credible elections start with proper EC appointments. He recommended revising or replacing the existing law, establishing an impartial inquiry committee with government and civil society representatives, and implementing strict recruitment criteria to ensure the selection of professional and impartial individuals.

Representatives from 10 political parties, including BNP, Jatiya Party, Jamaat-e-Islami, and AB Party, along with civil society members, participated in the discussion. 

BNP leaders Selima Rahman and Rumeen Farhana stressed the need for honest and capable individuals for the EC and a transparent selection process with political party involvement. 

Jatiya Party's Shamim Haider Patwari called for repealing the current law, while NDM's Bobby Hajjaz highlighted other related concerns.