Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed on Sunday said the Commission’s move to amend the electoral laws, including the Representation of the People Order, is not targeting any individual or political party to keep them outside the election race.
“The Election Commission has no target to keep any person or party away from the polls…our goal is to arrange polls to be participated by all,” he said.
The CEC came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after a meeting with a team of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami at the Commission’s Secretariat in the capital.
The Jamaat delegation, led by its law secretary Advocate Jasim Uddin Sarker, lodged a written complaint with the EC against its proposal to exclude those convicted by the International Crimes Tribunals.
The delegation also requested the Commission to withdraw its proposal in this regard to remove the ongoing political stability.
In the letter, signed by Jasim Uddin, Jamaat alleged that the Commission’s decision to exclude Jamaat leaders who are convicted under the International Crimes Tribunals from the voter list is unconstitutional and illegal.
“As part of the government’s plan, the EC has taken the move to amend the voter roll and the RPO in a hurried manner. With this move, the Commission is making the next election uncertain,” it added
Reacting to the Jamaat’s allegations, the CEC said they have taken all steps as per the law.
“We’ve asked Jamaat to come up with more legal explanation in support of their claim. We’ve told them that our goal is to hold a free and fair election with the participation of all parties. We’ve done nothing to exclude anyone. We’ve to work following the law,” Kazi Rakibuddin said.
The Commission at a meeting last week decided to bring a change in the clause 9 of the voter list act for excluding collaborators and convicts of any wartime crimes or crimes against humanity under any national or international tribunals.
The Commission has recently drafted a proposal for the reforms of the RPO 1972 with massive changes.
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