Secret deal to revoke RPO amendment would breach level playing field: Jamaat’s Porwar
The amendment states that no registered party’s candidate may contest under another party’s symbol, even within an alliance.
Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said today (2 November) that if the government secretly reaches an understanding with a certain party to revoke the latest amendment to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), it would amount to a violation of the level playing field.
Notably, the amendment states that no registered party's candidate may contest under another party's symbol, even within an alliance.
In his statement, Porwar said, "Even if an electoral alliance is formed, candidates must contest in the national election under their respective party symbols.
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"On 23 October, the interim government's Advisory Council approved the draft amendment to the election law – the Representation of the People Order (RPO) – adding this provision."
However, according to various sources, the government is now moving to revoke the approved amendment following a so-called "gentleman's agreement" between a BNP leader and an adviser, he added.
"The nation believes that if the RPO, recommended by the Electoral Reform Commission and approved by the Advisory Council, is revoked, it would be a disgraceful, undemocratic and politically motivated act," Porwar continued.
If the amendment approved by the interim government is cancelled, it will raise serious questions before the nation regarding the neutrality of the upcoming election and the assurance of a level playing field for all parties, he said.
The people believe that, in that case, the government will have no moral or logical justification for its actions, the Jamaat leader remarked.
"Only four months before the election, if the level playing field is broken through collusion between a senior leader of a major political party and an advisor within the government, holding a neutral election will become impossible.
"In the greater interest of the nation and to ensure equal opportunities for all parties, we call upon the interim government to maintain the existing RPO as approved by the Electoral Reform Commission and the Advisory Council."
