The Election Commission is going to amend the RPO to ensure that those convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) cannot contest elections. “Those who have been convicted by the ICT will not be able to contest elections. The EC is going to amend the existing RPO incorporating such provisions,” Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad told newsmen after a meeting of the Commission on the amendment of the RPO.
Responding to a question whether the EC would ban the Jamaat-e-Islami for its involvement in 1971 war crimes, the CEC said the EC move in this regard can be determined only after closely examining the verdicts of the ICT. “We cannot say what will be our stand on this issue without examining the verdict thoroughly”, he said. In this connection, he said if the EC gets any order from the court, it will definitely abide by it.
It may be mentioned that the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), in its verdict against former Jamaat Ameer Prof. Ghulam Azam, said the Jamaat-e-Islami, as a political party under the leadership of Prof. Azam, had deliberately functioned as a “criminal organisation”, especially during the Liberation War in 1971.
“In the interest of establishing a democratic as well as non-communal Bangladesh, we observe that no such anti-Liberation people should be allowed to be at the helm of the government, social or political parties and
non-government organisations,” the ICT said.
“We are of the opinion that the government may take steps for debarring those anti-Liberation persons from holding superior posts in order to establish a democratic and non-communal country for which millions of people sacrificed their lives during the War of Liberation,” the verdict observed.
Senior Awami League leaders on Thursday urged the EC to revoke the registration of the Jamaat in the light of the ICT verdict.
-With The Independent input
