The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliament Affairs on Monday finalized its report on the much talked about "Appointment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (EC) Bill-2022" for placing the bill before the National Parliament.
According to sources, the parliamentary standing committee has recommended two amendments in the "Appointment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (EC) Bill-2022" regarding the eligibility in the appointment of the CEC and the EC members.
In section ‘C’ of 5 of the Bill, it mentions that in order to become the CEC or a commissioner, he or she must have at least 20 years of working experience in any important government, judicial, semi-government or private organization.
In the amendment, however, it has been mentioned that this section will include government, judicial, semi-government or private organisation as well as 'autonomous and other occupations'.
In case of disqualification, changes have also been made in section 6 (d). Earlier it was mentioned that a person cannot be the CEC or a commissioner if he or she is convicted of a criminal offense of moral turpitude and sentenced to at least two years imprisonment.
In the amendment the term ‘imprisonment for two years’ has been omitted and the term only ‘imprisonment’ has been replaced. That means, moral turpitude would be considered a disqualification from becoming the CEC or any commissioner if he or she is convicted for any term in a criminal offense.
Earlier on Sunday (January 23), Law Minister Anisul Haque placed the Bill in Parliament. Although BNP Lawmaker Harunur Rashid raised objections against the proposed bill, it was rejected by voice vote.
Sources said the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliament Affairs finalized the report at a meeting held on Monday at the National Parliament building.
The committee also recommended for placing its report in the current session of the National Parliament.
Chaired by Md Shahiduzzaman Sarkar, President of the Committee on the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliament Affairs, the meeting was attended, among others, by committee’s other members Anisul Huque, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliament Affairs, Lawmakers Mostafizur Rahman, Md Shamsul Huq Tuku, Md Abdul Mazid Khan, Shamim Haider Patwari, Gloria Jhorna Sarkar, Rumin Farhana and Selim Altaf Jorge.
According to sources, all the members of the committee took part in the meeting and the meeting decided to place the report in the current session of the National Parliament with two amendments.
While talking to reporters at the end of the meeting, Md Shahiduzzaman Sarkar, President of the Committee on the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliament Affairs, said, “After discussion elaborately, the bill has been finalized with some changes regarding the eligibilities and disqualifications. Now the bill will be placed before the current session of the parliament.”
He also said that this bill has also given legality to two search committees and two Election Commissions in the past.
