Application for disclosing entities who suggested names for EC

Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) General Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar has submitted an application to the Cabinet Division under the "Right to Information Act 2009" for disclosing the entities who suggested names for the upcoming election commission (EC).

"The Cabinet Division, on behalf of the search committee, disclosed the names of the 322 nominees proposed by citizens, political parties and other organisations, but it did not specify who was suggested by which entities," he wrote in the application submitted on 16 February.  

"Besides, the Division itself suggested several names, which also remained undisclosed. So, the published information is incomplete."

Badiul Alam requested the Cabinet Division to disclose the entities and their proposed particular names within the next three days. However, the Cabinet Division is yet to respond to the application.

"According to section 4(1) of the Appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners Act, the committee will carry out its duties with transparency and neutrality. This law was not upheld due to the incomplete information," reads the application.

Earlier on 14 February, the Search Committee on forming the next Election Commission (EC) published the list of 322 names, which included dozens of well-known faces.

The list revealed on the website of the Cabinet Division, named 61 former secretaries, 18 retired army officials including two army chiefs, 15 justices including two former chief justices.

Besides, it also names police officials including two former inspector generals of police, university teachers, lawyers, human rights activists and those who have served different crucial institutions.