Dhaka: Voicing satisfaction over the formation of the new Election Commission (EC), Jatiya Party on Tuesday hoped that the Commission will set a new example by holding fair, impartial and neutral elections. 

Party secretary general ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader also congratulated the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and election commissioners.

He came up with the remarks while giving Jatiya Party’s formal reaction to the new EC at a press conference at its chairman HM Ershad’s Banani office.

President Abdul Hamid on Monday night constituted the new EC making former secretary KM Nurul Huda the CEC.

He also appointed four new election commissioners -- former additional secretary Mahbub Talukder, ex-secretary Rafiqul Islam, ex-district and session’s judge Begum Kabita Khanam and Brig Gen (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury.

The President appointed the new CEC and the four election commissioners from the 10 names proposed by the search committee.

Asked whether their party has confidence in the new members of the EC, Howlader said there is no scope to raise any question about the process they have been appointed. “Now it’s the main question whether the new commission can hold fair and neutral election.”

Describing CEC-designate Huda as an honest man, the Jatiya Party secretary general said, “He is a valiant freedom fighter. Personally, I know him as a good person.” 

Howlader thanked the President for appointing a woman as an election commissioner. “It’s a very good example.”

Jatiya Party (JP) co-chair GM Quader said the process of selecting the new CEC and other election commissioners is logical and acceptable one.

Sought his comment on the new EC, he said it is not the high time to make any remark on it before observing its activities.