Justice Zubayer to lead EC search committee

Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, a senior judge of the Appellate Division, has been nominated the head of the search committee for the formation of the new Election Commission. 

Chief Justice Syed Refat Ahmed nominated his name, along with that of senior High Court judge AKM Asaduzzaman, who will serve as a member of the committee. 

Following their nomination, the Supreme Court administration sent these recommendations to the Cabinet Division, confirmed by several Supreme Court sources.

This appointment comes after a month of political changes, with the election commission led by Kazi Habibul Awal stepping down on September 5, following the twelfth parliamentary elections held earlier this year.

Under the Appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2022, a six-member search committee is required to fill EC vacancies. The previous Election Commission was the first to be appointed under this law.

The six-member search committee is chaired by an Appellate Division judge nominated by the Chief Justice. Its members include a High Court Division judge (also nominated by the Chief Justice), the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Chairman of the Public Service Commission, and two eminent citizens nominated by the President, one of whom will be a woman.