UkhiyaNews Desk::
Civil society leaders have put their faith on the search committee and hoped they will recommend the best names to form the next Election Commission.

The four civil society leaders placed their statements before the media after a meeting with the Election Commission search committee at Supreme Court judges’ lounge this afternoon.

“The next election commissioners have to be competent, honest and they must remain strong to keep themselves outside political influence,” said Abu Hena, a former chief of the EC.

Daily Samakal Editor Golam Sarwar said they have “confidence” on the search committee that they will come up with “good proposals” for the next batch of election commissioners.

A former election commissioner, Abu Hena, arriving at the Supreme Court premises on February 1, 2017. He is one of the four civil society leaders who sat with the Election Commission search committee in the lineup to formation of a fresh election governing body. Photo: Mohammad Al-Masum Molla
The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam also echoed the words of Editor Sarwar and added hopes that the next commission will have a bold role in discharging its duties.

Another civil society leader Barrister Rokonuddin Mahmud and Abdul Wadud, additional secretary to the cabinet division, also spoke to the media after the meeting.

Today’s meeting with the second batch with civil society leaders took place in the backdrop of the search committee short-listing 20 names from those recommended by different political parties as potential Election Commissioners.

Previously on Monday, the Election Commission search committee has had talks with 12 other representatives of the civil society.

President Abdul Hamid formed the six-member search panel headed by Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain after holding a series of talks with 31 registered political parties.

The tenure of the incumbent Election Commission, headed by Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, expires this month. The new commission will arrange the parliamentary election slated for 2019.