Nonpoliticals made search body members: AL

Coming down heavily on BNP for its criticism over the Election Commission search committee, Awami League today thanked President Abdul Hamid for forming the body with qualified and nonpolitical personalities.

“We expected that the search committee would be formed with people who believe in the spirit of the Liberation War and that has been done by our honorable president,” Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said at a function in Benapole of Jessore this noon.    

Claiming that the president [Abdul Hamid] did not include any political person in the search committee, Quader said qualified and nonpolitical personalities have been made members of the committee.

Terming BNP’s remarks on the search committee as baseless, Quader, also the minister for Road Transport and Bridges, said the party has become very vocal against the search committee whereas it had appointed politically influential people in different constitutional posts under the same situation earlier. 

Mentioning the name of Syed Manzoorul Islam, a member of the search committee, Quader said he did not belong to any political party and was not even an Awami Leaguer.

Meanwhile in Dhaka, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said BNP will incur loss if it makes the search committee controversial.

Terming the search committee as neutral, Tofail, also an advisory council member of the AL, said, "I strongly believe BNP will participate in the next general election under the Election Commission to be constituted with the persons proposed by this search committee.”

BNP should not oppose president's decision making this initiative controversial and should react over the issue carefully, he also said, adding “Otherwise, BNP itself will incur loss”.

Earlier today, AL Presidium Member Mohammad Nasim said BNP should show positive attitude towards the search committee for reconstitution of the next Election Commission.

“The members of the search committee are respected personalities of the society. BNP has to show positive approach to the neutrally made search committee,” Nasim said.

Nasim, also the Health and Family Welfare minister, was talking to reporters while paying a visit to the ENT Hospital in Tejgaon area of Dhaka this noon.

"The president has formed the search committee in accordance with the power bestowed upon him by the Constitution. The committee will only suggest names for formation of the Election Commission," he said.

Political parties should wait until formation of the EC instead of making comments, the minister added.

Blaming Fakhrul for making such false remarks, Nasim said all members of the search committee are above all debates.

“Judges do not do politics for any political party. Does any teacher do politics? They are in different professions for their own qualities,” he said.