RPO will curb EC's power: TIB

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) today raised concern over the Representation of the People Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023, saying the bill will further curb the Election Commission's power once it is passed in the Jatiya Sangsad.

In a statement, TIB said if the proposed amendment is made, the EC's power to cancel polls to any constituency, if it is convinced on the ground of irregularities, will be scrapped.

TIB said as per section 91 (a) of the RPO, the EC may stop the polls at any polling centre or the entire constituency at any stage of the election if it is convinced that it will not be able to ensure the conduct of the election justly, fairly and following the law due to malpractices, including coercion, intimidation and pressures.

On the other hand, in the new bill, it has been proposed to limit the EC's power to cancel voting in only related polling centres that will face irregularities, it said.

As a result, if the bill is passed then the EC will not have the power to cancel constituency-based polls, it added.

This will be "adding insult to injury", TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said in the statement.

Iftekharuzzaman said in October last year, the EC postponed the by-polls of the Gaibandha-5 constituency on the ground of irregularities after it observed the polls on CCTV camera.

Later, election observers observed that such a step by the EC could be a concern for the ruling party.

"The proposed bill justifies the observation. If the EC's power is curbed through the passing of the bill, it will further intensify the 'lack of trust' on the chances of holding free, fair, participatory and neutral elections in the country," added Iftekharuzzaman.

Law Minister Anisul Huq placed the bill in Jatiya Sangsad on June 5. It was later sent to the parliamentary standing committee on the law ministry for scrutiny.

The committee was asked to submit its report within 15 days.