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Bangladesh election rules draw flak

DHAKA: Ahead of the scheduled elections in December, the caretaker government has come under attack from political parties.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police has created a new intelligence wing to gather information in advance about activities of political parties.

The Awami League and BNP said this has been done to harass leaders. The government recently amended the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972, to regulate the activities of political parties. Under the amendments, government officials who resigned or retired after November 2005 would not be able to contest the elections.

Promulgated by the President on Tuesday, the ordinance brings into force with immediate effect a number of amendments, and may spell doom to the ambitions of many former government officials.

The move comes in the wake of allegations that some bureaucrats had exploited their positions to lay the groundwork for their political careers.

Also, the new laws have made registration with the Election Commission mandatory for political parties, who must ensure financial transparency in their election expenses.

The Awami League and BNP said political parties could not accept any such changes in the law made under the state of Emergency. BNP’s vice-chairman M. K. Anwar said the order would require further amendments as many of its provisions were ‘useless’ and ‘impractical’. Awami League’s member Matia Chowdhury said the government amended the order only to obstruct the country’s democratic process.

Workers Party of Bangladesh president Rashed Khan Menon said the commission had not taken many recommendations and objections into consideration before finalising the new order.

Communist Party of Bangladesh general-secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim said: “The latest order would not be the total prescription for holding free and fair elections.”

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