Awami League has proposed to the President to make a law in accordance with the provisions of the constitution for the formation of the Election Commission (EC).
Obaidul Quader, general secretary of the party, said this at a press conference after leaving the dialogue at Bangabhaban on Monday (January 17). The press conference was held at the party's central office.
He said that the process of formation of Election Commission has to follow that system. Asked whether the law would be passed in this session, he said the present parliament would make every effort to get the law passed since it is people's demand. Every effort will be made. There is no problem to try.
In a written statement, Obaidul Quader said the Awami League respects the constitution and law of the country. Bangladesh Awami League has full confidence and trust in the deep knowledge, wisdom and discretion of the President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh in his long political life. We have full confidence in any just initiative taken by the President. The Election Commission is a constitutional body. The main provisions related to the Election Commission are mentioned in the Constitution of the highest law of the country (Articles 118-126).
In today's meeting we have raised a number of proposals regarding the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners.
The proposals are: The President shall appoint the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners in accordance with the provisions of Article 118 of the Constitution.
>> In the process of appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners as the President deems fit, in the process he will appoint the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners.
>> Appropriate law may be enacted subject to the provisions of Article 118 of the Constitution for the purpose of appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners. As there is no such law at present, according to the provisions of Article 118 of the Constitution, the President has no obligation to abide by any law other than the Constitution in appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners. However, in order to uphold the constitutional spirit, the law is required to determine the qualifications and disqualifications of the Chief Election Commissioner and other election commissioners and their appointment process. Any law regarding the formation of the Election Commission will be a special kind of law according to the constitutional provisions. There was no specific example in our political culture for this particular type of legislation. The Awami League is the only party to establish a political consensus on the formation of the Election Commission.
This constitutional practice is the formation of the Election Commission on the basis of the views and participation of all through the formation of the Search Committee / Inquiry Committee. This system has been practiced twice so far (2012 and 2017) and the Election Commission has been formed accordingly. Twice the representatives of all the political parties and civil society of the country participated in this exercise. In this case, a law may be enacted in the light of this practice and in light of Article 118 of the Constitution from this procedural experience.
>> In the interest of fair, free, neutral and transparent elections, it is necessary to ensure the use of more information technology in all elections.
A 10-member Awami League delegation led by party president Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina entered Bangabhaban at 3:56 pm.