The ruling Awami League is considering to bring amendments to the Representation of the People Order (RPO) to facilitate the next parliamentary elections under a partisan government.
Senior party leaders discussed the issues at a meeting at the Indira Road residence of Law Minister Shafique Ahmed on Friday night. It was attended by advisory council members Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, HT Imam and Mashiur Rahman, and Law Secretary (legislative and drafting) Shahidul Haque.
Even though no decision was made, a development in this regard is likely to happen in consultation with party President Sheikh Hasina, meeting sources said.
The Awami League, however, is not interested to bring any amendment to the constitution, sources said. It considers that further amendment would invite difficulties, instead of any solution.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Awami League advisory council member and Minister without portfolio Suranjit Sengupta admitted that they had discussed the RPO amendments.
He said the election would be held as per the provision of the 1972 constitution as it clearly directed the structure of the interim government.
Asked about the BNP’s allegation, he said the opposition was trying to unsettle a settled matter but the government would not let it happen. He also turned down any possibility of further amendment to the constitution.
The meeting discussed about relaxing the candidates’ qualifications to vie for the polls through a change in the RPO, the source mentioned. The existing regulation bars a government employee to contest in the election within three years of his retirement.
The meeting also suggested imposing a ban on rival candidates to bar more than one candidate from a party contesting the polls in one constituency. The Awami League had earlier proposed this to the EC.
According to the source, the meeting also recommended to allow the prime minister, the ministers and the state ministers a privilege of holding election campaigns in their respective constituencies.
Meeting insider said the leaders discussed that further constitutional amendment might not resolve the persistent complications. But they suggested strengthening the Election Commission.
They suggested that the EC would be more powerful during the interim period. On the other hand, a mini cabinet headed by the prime minister would just conduct the routine works.
To this end, it requires further amendments to the RPO and the government is working to do so.
The EC has already proposed changes in the RPO and sent it to the law ministry.
The leaders opined that the upcoming parliamentary elections should follow the process and procedures of the first elections of 1973.
The meeting also viewed that the next election was possible under the present constitutional provisions without dissolving parliament. But they said the prime minister could request the president in writing to dissolve the parliament.