POBNEWS24, Dhaka July 12, 2023 : The existing legal infrastructure in the country is enough to hold free and fair polls, said Law and Justice Division Secretary Md Golam Sarwar during a meeting today with the visiting European Union (EU) election exploratory mission.
“They asked me that whether the existing legal infrastructure that we have, is enough to hold a free and fair election. We said that it is enough and pointed out a couple of sections of RPO as reference, and they were satisfied,” he told journalists after the meeting at his secretariat office this noon.
The law and justice division secretary also said no other country in the sub-continent has the act that Bangladesh has for selecting chief election commissioner and other election commissioners.
“The chairman of the search committee in this regard, was a judge of the Appellate Division, nominated by the chief justice. Apart from him, a High Court Division judge, comptroller and auditor general, chairman of Public Service Commission and two eminent persons of the civil society were the members of that search committee. They (EU delegation) were happy,” Md Golam Sarwar further said.
While replying to a question on whether there was any discussion regarding holding election under any party government, the law and justice division replied in negative.
Talking about the observing duties by the judges and the judicial officers during the election time, the law secretary said an investigation committee led by a joint district judge is formed when the election schedule is announced. This committee observes its duty from the day of announcement of election schedule to publishing of the polling result gazette.
“If any allegation regarding the irregularities in election is found, then that committee prepares a report and submit that to the Election Commission (EC), so that it can take action,” he added.
Sarwar also said if the EC demands judicial officers for its work, the officers are assigned to the EC after having suggestions with the Supreme Court.
“After that they observe their duties under the EC. The judicial officers observe their duties in this regard for total five days; two days before the polling day, on the polling day, and two days after the polling day. They can take punitive actions as per RPO after conducting summary trial. These too were appreciated by them (EU mission),” Md Golam Sarwar said.
