Eminent citizens have suggested that the ‘Search Committee’ propose names of persons who are pro-liberation, and believe in the War of Liberation, as the Chief Election Commissioner, and Election Commissioners.

They also suggested that those who have had special privileges and benefits during previous governments should not be appointed to the Election Commission.

They made the suggestions on Saturday during two separate meetings with the ‘Search Committee’ formed to find out eligible persons as the Chief Election Commissioner and four other members of the Election Commission as part of the reconstitution of the EC.

Both the meetings were held at the Supreme Court Judges Lounge.

Prof Mahfuza Khanam, president of the Bangladesh Asiatic Society, said, those whose names will be sent to the president by the search committee for the EC formation must be pro-liberation.

"They could be from any field. Whether a government bureaucrat or a professional in another field -- we will know their personal character and honesty from their lives," she said.

Ali Imam Majumder, a former cabinet secretary, said, "Whether it is the current government or the previous party government, any privileged person should not get a place in the Election Commission. This claim has been supported by many others."

Another eminent citizen Mansurul Huq, a Supreme Court lawyer, said as a lawyer and freedom fighter, I say that those to be nominated by the ‘Search Committee’ should be pro-liberation forces carrying the spirit of War of Liberation.”

“They must be honest, sincere and eligible”, he said.

Dhaka University Professor Asif Nazrul said, “I have suggested that those who have had special privileges and benefits during previous governments should not be appointed to the Election Commission.”

According to sources, some other eminent citizens have suggested not to appoint those people who are partisan and have been involved in corruption.

It should be mentioned that the ‘Search Committee’ has requested a total of 39 political parties registered with the EC to suggest names as the CEC and other members of the EC.

According to sources, a total of 25 out of 39 political parties, including ruling Awami League, main opposition in the parliament Jatiya Party have submitted their proposals. But, 15 political parties, including BNP and CPB did not respond to the call of the ‘Search Committee’.

The ‘Search Committee’ also urged the individuals to suggest names of eligible persons for the posts of CEC and other members of the EC.

Sources said many individuals and several organisations have proposed over 300 names for the post of the next CEC and other EC members.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam on Saturday said that the ‘Search Committee’ received a total of 329 names with recommendations for appointments as the CEC and other EC members.

"Of the 329 names, 136 names have come from different political parties, including Awami League while the rest from various organisations and personal proposals," he told reporters at the Supreme Court Judges' Lounge this afternoon.