Army-BDR's poll day power cut

Parliament yesterday passed a bill scrapping the authority of the military and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) personnel to arrest anyone without warrant for violation of electoral laws on the polling day.
The bill ratifies the three ordinances promulgated by the immediate past caretaker government amending Representation of the People Order (RPO) before the ninth parliamentary polls last year.
It also does away with the 'no-vote' option introduced in 2008 as part of electoral reforms.
It however includes a new provision to provide for postal ballot for Bangladeshis living abroad and officials on election duty.
This apart, the provisions incorporated in the RPO through the ordinances remain intact.
Members of the armed forces and BDR on election duty were granted the power to arrest anyone without warrant within 400-yard radius of a polling station in 2001. For that, they had to be defined as 'law enforcement agencies'.
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shafique Ahmed piloted the bill passed in the evening in absence of the BNP-led opposition lawmakers.
The opposition MPs moved motions seeking disapproval of the RPO ordinances. They urged the government not to ratify the ordinances but to no avail.
The passage means legislative recognition for the milestone provisions like mandatory registration of the political parties, barring of war criminals from elections, restriction on government officials contesting polls before three years since retirement and the Election Commission's authority to cancel candidatures.
The ruling Awami League (AL) had been opposed to giving the military and para-military forces arrest authority.
But in a surprise move during electoral talks with the EC in November 2007, it accepted the provision.
Because of the provision, the armed forces---army, navy and air force--and BDR men could remove notices, signs, banners or flags used in election campaigns in breach of the electoral laws.
They could also seize instruments or apparatus employed in contravention of electoral laws. Besides, they could resort to use of force if they deemed that necessary to enforce election laws on the election day.
The armed forces and BDR were deployed during the parliamentary elections in 2001 and 2008.
Last year, the EC allowed them to exercise the authority in city corporation polls as well.
In his arguments for ratifying the ordinances, the law minister said most of the amendments to the RPO were required for free and fair conduct of the ninth parliamentary election.
“December 29 national election could be held in a free and fair manner because of the electoral reforms. In fact, there's no logic behind resolutions for disapproval of the ordinances,” he observed.
Later, the resolutions were rejected in voice vote.