EC begins talks on legal reforms, RPO 1972 amendments

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh convened its eighth commission meeting today (10 July) to discuss key legal reforms, including amendments to the Representation of the People Order (RPO) 1972.

The meeting, presided over by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, commenced at 11am at the EC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka. All four Election Commissioners, senior secretary to the EC and other high-ranking officials were in attendance.

The commission took a scheduled recess at 1:30pm, with confirmation that discussions would resume later in the day. Shariful Alam, Director of Public Relations at the EC, informed the media that further details would be disclosed following the meeting's conclusion.

According to officials, the agenda includes amendments to several critical laws and ordinances, including: The Representation of the People (Amendment) Ordinance, The Election Commission Secretariat (Amendment) Ordinance, The Election Officer (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 (Amendment) Ordinance, Affidavit requirements for candidates in nomination papers, Administrative and financial powers of EC Secretariat officials and various other legal matters.

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."

Speaking to the business standard, Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said, "It is more about what the government chooses to legislate than what we desire. The Election Reform Committee has already recommended this, and if such a law is enacted, the EC would certainly be empowered to act accordingly."

The call for reform follows the 2023 amendment to the RPO by the then Awami League government, which curtailed the EC's powers to cancel or postpone elections—a move widely criticised by opposition parties.

The revision came in the wake of the EC's unprecedented decision to cancel the Gaibandha-5 by-election due to significant electoral irregularities.

Under the current RPO, the EC can suspend results only at polling stations where irregularities are confirmed, but it can no longer annul results for an entire constituency.