Proposed EC Act - It will fail to fulfil constitutional commitment: TIB
Transparency International Bangladesh yesterday said the proposed Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioner Appointment Act, 2022 will fail to fulfil constitutional commitment and people's expectation.
As reasons, TIB said some "average criteria" were set in the draft law to determine eligibility and ineligibility for the appointments of the CEC and ECs.
Apart from this, there's an "unacceptable" absence of any provision to determine their skills, experience, impartiality, transparency and acceptability, said TIB in a statement. While the government's sudden move to formulate the law is positive, there's a due process to enact such an important and sensitive law, said TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman.
Referring to media reports, Iftekharuzzaman said that most recommendations made by civil society and stakeholders were not considered in the draft law.
Citing the draft law, he said three provisions have been incorporated in the proposed law to determine the eligibility of the CEC and ECs.
However, there is no specific directive in those provisions regarding the CEC and ECs' honesty, righteousness, impartiality, objectivity, courage and acceptability, he added. Also, there is no provision for inclusion of female members in the commission.
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