ID :
15342
Fri, 08/08/2008 - 17:57
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/15342
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B'desh govt introduces stringent electoral law
Dhaka, Aug 8 (PTI) Bangladesh's military-backed government has approved a stringent law introducing electoral reforms, including barring political parties from running front organisations and bringing transparency into election funding, ahead of the December polls.
"The cabinet has approved the Representation of People (Amendment) Order
Ordinance (R.P.O.) 2008 which will now be published in a gazette soon once the
President (Iajuddin Ahmed) signs it," government spokesman Syed Fahim Munaim
told reporters after a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Fakhruddin
Ahmed.
The government's move to bring in the new law, which officials said will tackle
"money and muscle power", came two days after the country witnessed its first
civic elections under emergency rule imposed by Iajuddin in January last year
after months of political turmoil.
Munaim said provisions were added to the R.P.O. to maintain transparency in
candidacy, nomination and funding of political parties.
The amended election law that replaces a 1972 legislation allows voters to cast
"no" votes while barring political parties from having front organisations and
overseas units.
Voters can opt for the "no" option if they don't favour any of the candidates
and a re-election will be held if most of the ballots fall under this category.
The new R.P.O. also makes inner-party democracy crucial for being eligible to
contest in polls. It also has the provision of mandatory registration of
political parties as well as submission of their election expenditure
statements and related bank statements to the Election Commission (E.C.).
Any person declared war criminal by a local or international court will not be
eligible to run for elections, either. The ordinance allows a candidate to run
from a maximum of three constituencies.
The Election Commission officials said under a separate newly enacted law, the
Local Government Ordinance, the elected mayors and councillors will have to
give up their party posts.
The interim governmnet has promised to hold elections in the third week of
December following intense domestic and international pressure.
"The cabinet has approved the Representation of People (Amendment) Order
Ordinance (R.P.O.) 2008 which will now be published in a gazette soon once the
President (Iajuddin Ahmed) signs it," government spokesman Syed Fahim Munaim
told reporters after a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Fakhruddin
Ahmed.
The government's move to bring in the new law, which officials said will tackle
"money and muscle power", came two days after the country witnessed its first
civic elections under emergency rule imposed by Iajuddin in January last year
after months of political turmoil.
Munaim said provisions were added to the R.P.O. to maintain transparency in
candidacy, nomination and funding of political parties.
The amended election law that replaces a 1972 legislation allows voters to cast
"no" votes while barring political parties from having front organisations and
overseas units.
Voters can opt for the "no" option if they don't favour any of the candidates
and a re-election will be held if most of the ballots fall under this category.
The new R.P.O. also makes inner-party democracy crucial for being eligible to
contest in polls. It also has the provision of mandatory registration of
political parties as well as submission of their election expenditure
statements and related bank statements to the Election Commission (E.C.).
Any person declared war criminal by a local or international court will not be
eligible to run for elections, either. The ordinance allows a candidate to run
from a maximum of three constituencies.
The Election Commission officials said under a separate newly enacted law, the
Local Government Ordinance, the elected mayors and councillors will have to
give up their party posts.
The interim governmnet has promised to hold elections in the third week of
December following intense domestic and international pressure.
