Dhaka: The Election Commission (EC) has finalized the draft amendment to the Representation of the People Order, 1972 (RPO) and sent it to the Law Ministry on the occasion of the 13th national election. Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd.) Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah announced the key changes at a press briefing at the EC headquarters in Agargaon today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the amendments include significant changes such as disqualifying court-declared fugitives from voting or contesting in elections. Additionally, if a candidate is found to have provided false information, it could lead to the cancellation of their candidacy or MP seat.
One of the notable changes is the requirement for single candidates to face a ‘no vote’; if the ‘no’ option wins, a re-election will be held. The practice of unopposed elections has been abolished, ensuring that no candidate can be elected without a voting process. Furthermore, candidates representing an alliance must contest under their own party’s symbol, as the use of the party symbol is now mandatory.
The amendments also empower the presiding officer with full authority to continue or halt voting at polling centers. The use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) has been abolished, with postal ballots reintroduced for expatriates, government staff, election workers, and those in custody. In terms of media access, journalists will be allowed to be present during vote counting, provided they have prior permission.