Rights body calls for RPO amendment to exclude encroachers, polluters from election
Terming the Bangladeshi people as pro-election, Manzil said they have requested to amend the law so that only those who will not pollute and encroach the rivers run in the elections
Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), a human rights organisation, has sought an amendment of the Representation of People Order 1972 (RPO) to prevent encroachers and polluters of rivers from participating in the elections.
"The RPO must be amended to include a provision declaring individuals who pollute and encroach upon rivers as unfit to run in elections. The Election Commission has also agreed on this matter," said Manzil Morshed, president of HRPB
Manzil made the remarks after attending a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin and the other commissioners at the EC building today (5 March).
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"We have been engaged in a legal battle for a long time. Although the Appellate Division has announced that the polluters and encroachers of the rivers are unfit for elections, there is no law to implement this decision," Manzil said.
"The EC cannot declare someone unfit for running in the elections unless there is any law in the RPO. This is why we have come to the EC and submitted an application," Manzil added.
Manzil further said, "The National River Protection Commission (NRPC) has already submitted a list of the polluters and encroachers of the rivers to the president. The information is also available on the commission's website. There are a few thousand polluters and around 54,000 encroachers. If a law declares these individuals unfit for elections, it will significantly reduce river pollution and encroachment."
Terming the Bangladeshi people as pro-election, Manzil said they have requested to amend the law so that only those who will not pollute and encroach the rivers run in the elections.
"Bangladeshis run in the elections whenever they get some money. If people who are not encroachers or polluters come to the elections, it will benefit the people of country through protecting the environment," Manzil said.
Stating that the EC has fully agreed with HRPB on this issue, Manzil added that they [EC] believe such a law would be beneficial for the country's environment.
"The commission has said it is a lengthy process to amend a law as this cannot be done immediately. The draft of the law has to be submitted to the government, and EC has sought our help in doing so," Manzil further said.
