EC moves to amend RPO ahead of general election

The Election Commission has taken an initiative to amend the Representation of the People Order (RPO) 1972 ahead of the next general election.

The commission meeting scheduled for tomorrow (10 July) will discuss the draft amendment ordinance of the RPO 1972, reports UNB.

The meeting will be chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital.

Then Awami League government brought changes in the RPO in 2023 ahead of the 12th parliamentary election, curtailing the EC's authority over the postponement or cancellation of election which drew criticism from the opposition parties.

As per the existing RPO, the EC can postpone or cancel the election result of one or more than one polling stations during the election.

According to the amended RPO, the EC can suspend the results of only those (one or more) polling stations where irregularities have been reported after the failure of law enforcement agencies to stop anomalies.

But the commission can't suspend or cancel the entire election result of a constituency due to irregularities in one or some polling station.

The amendment came after the Election Commission cancelled the Gaibandha-5 parliamentary by-election due to irregularities.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters today, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said, "The chief adviser has now instructed the officials to examine the legal aspects of whether the EC can be given back the authority to cancel elections in an entire constituency in case of irregularities."

In response to a question on whether the commission wants the authority to cancel votes at polling centres where irregularities occur, Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud told The Business Standard, "It's more about what the government will do than what we want— because it is the government that enacts the law.

"The Election Reform Committee has also recommended this. So, if the law is passed accordingly, it can certainly happen. We have a commission meeting tomorrow where the RPO will be discussed, and this issue is likely to come up."

As part of the election preparation, the current commission, headed by AMM Nasir Uddin, has already approved in principle the draft Parliamentary Election Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates 2025. The draft code will be finalised and subjected to the RPO amendment.

Besides, the commission meeting will discuss the possible amendments regarding several laws including the Election Commission Secretariat (Amendment) Ordinance and the Election Officers (Special Provision) Act, as well as the affidavits of candidates and the administrative and financial authorities of EC Secretariat's officials.