Akbar Ali critical of search committees

Akbar Ali Khan, former adviser to a caretaker government, yesterday said none of the search committees in the last 10 years could pick competent people as members of the Election Commission.

“The search committees couldn't provide names of those people who could have served the commission,” he said. “That's why the committees could not be successful.”

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Pointing to the recently-formed search committee, Akbar said it has also not been able to recommend names of competent people.

He was addressing as chief guest the inaugural ceremony of “UCB Public Parliament-2017” at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation in the city. Private television channel ATN Bangla and United Commercial Bank jointly organised the programme.     

Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said the new Election Commission led by its chief KM Nurul Huda would “never be able to a play neutral role in discharging its duties”.

He also termed the EC biased while talking to reporters at a book launching ceremony at the Bangla Academy.

In reply to a query on the dismissal of the Padma bridge corruption conspiracy case, he said he would not comment on the proceedings of any court.

“The reality is that the World Bank had stopped financing the Padma bridge construction on corruption charges. At that time, an allegation surfaced regarding the Padma bridge project. And now, what has been proven and where is not our concern.”

Meanwhile, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia last night instructed her party leaders and activists to take preparations for the next general elections scheduled for 2019, although the party has raised questions about the impartiality of the new CEC.

She gave the instruction while meeting the party's vice-chairmen at her Gulshan office, said one of the participants, wishing not to be named.

“Madam has instructed us all to visit our respective constituencies frequently, keep in touch with the people and hold rallies there,” he said.