BNP, other parties decry provision for allowing candidature with instant joining in parties
Parliament on Monday passed the Representation of People Order (Amendment) Bill, 2013 restricting an individual convicted under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act from contesting the national election. The bill also allowed a person to contest polls only by joining a political party. Earlier it required an individual to have involvement in a political party for three years.
But the passage of the bill that came through voice vote was immediately condemned by several political parties including main opposition BNP, which is boycotting the parliament. The political parties, which have been opposing the bill ever since it was placed by the law minister on September 30, said the opportunity to contest the polls only by joining a party would increase the use of money in the election and getting a nomination.
Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed moved the bill that also proposes to exclude from the election expenditure the expenses to be incurred by the party chief for traveling to various constituencies on election campaign.
The leaders demanded to make the Election Commission (EC) independent, neutral and strong institution and reform in the election system. BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at a press conference on Monday termed the move as a “blue-print” of the government to hold a one-party election.
“The government has been going ahead with a blue print to hold one-party election and the EC is implementing the government agenda,” he alleged.
CPB President Mujahidul Islam Selim and General Secretary Syed Abu Zafar Ahmed, in a statement, cticised the government move to amend the Representation of People Order (RPO) Act with the provision to allow newcomers in a party to contest the national election. The political leaders said the provision for newcomers to take part in the polls would encourage corruption and lack of ideology in politics.
The bill proposes to increase security money and election expenditure for the candidates in the national election.
As per the proposals made in the bill, the increased security money will be Tk 20,000 instead of the existing Tk 10,000 while a candidate will be able to spend Tk 25 lakh in place of the existing Tk 15 lakh in the election.
The bill also proposes to limit the amount of donation to be given by any individual to the party fund at Tk 25 lakh instead of the existing Tk 10 lakh while the amount will be Tk 50 lakh instead of Tk 25 lakh in case of donation by any company or organization.
The bill said that when it appears necessary to transfer any employee of any department of the government or of any other organisation in the interest of fair election, the Election Commission may request the concerned authority in the matter in writing and such transfer shall have to be made effective as soon as possible on receipt of such request from the Commission.
In the objectives the bill, it was mentioned that if the bill is enacted into a law, it will help hold a free, fair and neutral election.
Meanwhile, leaders of different political parties including the main opposition BNP condemned and criticised the government’s move to bring amendment to the Representation of People Order (RPO) Act providing the scope for intending person to be a party candidate in the national election only by joining a political party. They demanded turning the Election Commission (EC) independent, neutral and strong institution and reform in the election system.
BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at a press conference on Monday termed the move as a “blue-print” of the government to hold a one-party election.
“The government has been going ahead with a blue print to hold one-party election and the EC is implementing the government agenda,” he alleged.
CPB President Mujahidul Islam Selim and General Secretary Syed Abu Zafar Ahmed, in a statement, condemned the government effort to bring amendment to the Representation of People Order (RPO) Act with the provision to allow newcomers in a party to contest the national election.
They said the provision for newcomers to take part in the polls would encourage criminalisation and lack of ideology in politics.
The leaders demanded not to bring amendment to the RPO by incorporating the provision.
The Representation of People Order (RPO) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2013 is now pending with Parliament for consideration.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs on Sunday placed its report on the bill before the House with the recommendation to bring about the change for the candidature.
-With The Independent input
