Use of black money will increase through “nomination business” during the next parliamentary elections as the three-year mandatory party membership for an aspirant has been dropped from the electoral law, say election analysts.
They fear politics will be now dominated by businessmen and rich people as the amendment will encourage them and government officials to participate in the next parliamentary elections which, they say, is a threat to the democratic system.
While talking to the Dhaka Tribune on Monday, a number of election analysts and experts criticised the decision of dropping the provision from the Representation of the People Order (RPO).
Only barrister Rafiq-Ul Huq supported the amendment, saying the previous provision of the RPO was against the fundamental rights of people.
“Why should anyone wait for three years to participate in the parliamentary elections? All citizens have the right to participate in the elections!” he said.
Parliament on Monday amended the RPO, dropping article 12(j) that forced aspirants to spend three years in a registered political party before getting nomination from that party. The previous Election Commission had included the article in the RPO in 2008.
Former adviser to a caretaker government Akbar Ali Khan said dropping the article from the RPO would increase participation of businessmen and government officials and employees in the next parliamentary elections.
It would also increase the use of black money during the election.
Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said in deleting the article the government stance was totally contradictory because the Election Commission had formulated the law in consultation with all political parties.
“Businessmen and government officials will enter in politics without any political experience. It will give them scopes of huge monetary investment in politics and increase the use of black money,” he added.
Former election commissioner M Sakhawat Hussain said nomination business and use of black money would increase in the next parliamentary elections because of the RPO amendment. He pointed out that this parliament had approved the law in 2009.
“I do not know why the government dropped it from the RPO, but anarchy will come back in political parties centring nomination of candidates. We included the article after discussing with all political parties,” he said.
The amendment proposal sent by the Election Commission had not contained this particular change. When contacted, Election Commissioner Md Shah Newaz said parliament had the authority to bring changes to any provision of the RPO.