Editorial
EC's sticking to RPO restrictions welcome
Political parties should move forward
In the sequel to the Election Commission rescheduling the national and upazila poll dates thereby meeting the political parties' principal demand, we are heartened by the EC's announcement that it would stick to the restrictions contained in the amended RPO. The EC's decision not to further relax the provisions of RPO is well in order; for, we think, it needs the power to conduct the election effectively and credibly.
The BNP and its alliance partners have not looked kindly upon some important elements of the amended RPO. This is in spite of the fact that they were engaged in the process of deliberation the EC had conducted with political parties before finalising the draft ordinance. Even though such features as have been adopted hold the key to a qualitative change in the substance of the forthcoming election and its outcome, the BNP alliance has asked the EC to waive the restrictions on former government officials and loan and utility bill defaulters seeking to participate in the election.
Their another demand touches on a fundamental question of empowering the EC with the authority to cancel candidature of somebody who has flouted the electoral code of conduct, a power that is vested in the EC of the neighbouring country.
A brief analysis of the BNP alliance's contentions pertaining to each of the new provisions of RPO on which it has taken issue with the EC will reveal the untenability of their position. First, as for eligibility of government officials to contest in the elections after three years of their retirement, termination of contracts, dismissal or resignation, this is quite a proper criterion to set. Given the experience of former government officials nurturing their constituencies at the fag end of their job career with all the power and influence to wield and then taking a plunge immediately on severing ties with the government, we have seen how long-serving genuine politicians were elbowed out.
On the question of relaxing restrictions on bank loan and utility bill defaulters, the BNP-led alliance is clearly asking for the unacceptable. Because, the EC has already relaxed the timing for reschedulement progressively: from the original six months through a fortnight to a week before the polls just to meet the demand of the political parties. Yet, now the BNP asks for the repayment facility on reschedulement a day before the polls! To our knowledge, some of the election aspirants have run into crores in default; is it morally justifiable to be any more lenient to them? Definitely, we think not.
As for the EC's power to disqualify candidates for breach of code of conduct, the political parties need not have any misgivings provided the EC uses it sparingly and extremely cautiously in a fully transparent and open manner, which we believe, the EC has promised to the political parties. Our understanding is, it's only after providing opportunity for defence and thorough investigation and hearing that a candidate will be disqualified or acquitted.
All things considered, we urge the major parties and their alliance partners to look forward and make a fresh beginning, unhitched from the past blemishes.
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