THE Representation of the People (Amendment) Ordinance 2008 in the main addresses our political reform agenda, although some political parties have expressed reservation on certain of its provisions. It will usher in, one hopes, a new political culture in Bangladesh. If the provisions are applied in their true spirit we are certain that it would stimulate a culture of democratic practice in many political parties that was missing heretofore. A very welcome feature of the Ordinance is the three-year caveat for participation in election by retired government servants, military personnel and NGO top brasses, and also the provision for 'no-vote'.
The amended RPO reverses the practice as introduced by President Zia, for parties to have affiliated student or labour organisations as party appendages, without in any way preventing these elements from organising parties in their own rights or being members of political parties as individuals. This, we are confident, will help restore students' politics to the glorious days of the past. Prohibition of international wing of the political parties we feel will prevent the schism within the Bangladesh Diasporas on party lines outside Bangladesh. .
The provision for party nomination is a totally new feature which we believe will inculcate the growth of committed political parties led by equally committed politicians. The new process of party nomination to the parliament, the bottom-up system, where the views of the grass root party members will have to be taken into the reckoning of the party bosses at the center, will infuse a new dimension to the electoral process. This will, we hope, curtail the 'nomination business' that some parties were alleged to have been involved in, in the past, as well as instill democratic practice within the parties.
There are a few specific comments, however, that we would like to record for consideration of the EC.
Insofar as earmarking 33 percent of all committee positions for women in the party at all levels is concerned, the time frame of 2020 we feel is a bit longish. We suggest that the 12-year period be reduced to make it fully effective by the 2013 election.
We feel also that there ought to be provision for state funding of political parties for election. This can be done with a perspective plan in the same progressive manner as has been conceived for empowerment of women through reserved party committee positions for them.
Needless to say RPO-2008 has features that many political parties may, on the face of it, find hard to internalize. Our request to all the parties is that they should register with the EC, and any differences that they might have on any provisions of the RPO should be taken up with it, and the EC on its part should also try to accommodate the views of the political parties to the extent possible, across the table.