The interim government has approved the draft of an amendment to the Representation of the People Order with a provision that bars fugitives from contesting general elections.
The draft – which was approved by the advisory council on Thursday – also reinstates the “No Vote” option to prevent uncontested elections, makes the use of party symbols mandatory, and abolishes electronic voting systems.
The amendment includes the army, navy, air force, and the defence department in the definition of law enforcement agencies and allows journalists to be present during the vote-counting process.
Following the approval during a meeting at the Chief Adviser’s Office, with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in the chair, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said they included some important amendments to the RPO.
“In terms of qualifications and disqualifications of candidates, a new clause has been added to declare fugitive individuals ineligible for elections,” Nazrul said during a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy.
When asked what is meant by a fugitive accused, he said, “A fugitive is someone who is declared a fugitive by the court. When the court orders someone to appear before it, publishes a notice in newspapers, yet they refrain from appearing before the court, the court declares them a fugitive. This happens during the trial process.”
After the fall of the Awami League government through a mass uprising, ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, along with many other leaders, has been facing trials in numerous cases, and the trial has been running in absentia.
The government on 6 October issued an ordinance bringing the third amendment to the ICT law within a year.
Following the amendment, the opportunity for ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and other Awami League leaders to contest the upcoming general election has been closed.
Asked about the amendment, ICT Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam on 7 October told reporters that once formal charges are filed against anyone, that individual will no longer be eligible to run for elections. If they hold a public office, they will lose their eligibility to remain in that position, he said.
Regarding the new provisions in the amended RPO, the law adviser said candidates would now be required to declare their sources of income, both domestic and foreign, through affidavits in their nomination papers.
“The chief adviser has instructed that candidates must provide details of their income sources and properties—both domestic and foreign—to the Election Commission. These should be published on the website so that everyone can know who owns what. He has directed that such provisions be included in the law,” he said.
Asif Nazrul also said deposit for candidates has been increased from Tk20,000 to Tk50,000, and that a “No Vote” option will be introduced in constituencies with only one candidate.
“If there is only one candidate, voters will have the option to vote ‘no’. This measure has been introduced to prevent a repeat of the fraudulent and stage-managed 2014 election. Now, if voters dislike the sole candidate, they can cast a ‘no’ vote.”
The amended RPO also includes a rule that even if a candidate is part of an alliance, they must contest under their own party’s electoral symbol.
Previously, alliance candidates could contest under the symbol of a popular or major party. That option will no longer be available, said Asif Nazrul.
“If there is an electoral alliance, candidates will still have to contest under their own party’s symbol—so that voters have a clear idea of which party the candidate belongs to.”
The amended RPO also introduces postal voting for election officials and expatriate Bangladeshis.
An IT-supported postal voting system will be launched this time, allowing expatriates to register online and vote by mail. Additionally, people in custody, government employees, and polling officials will be able to vote in this way.
A provision has also been added allowing journalists to be present during the vote-counting process, the law adviser added.
Regarding political donations, he said any donation exceeding Tk50,000 must be made through banking channels. “Donors must also submit their tax returns,” he added.
To prevent irregularities, the Election Commission (EC) will now have the authority to cancel the election results of an entire constituency, if necessary, said Asif Nazrul.
“Previously, the law allowed the cancellation of results from a polling centre if irregularities occurred there. Now, if the Election Commission believes that widespread irregularities have taken place across an entire constituency and that the vote should be annulled, it has the authority to do so,” he said.
The meeting also approved the Bangladesh Labour Act (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, the Supreme Court Secretariat Ordinance 2025, the Anti-Corruption Commission (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, the July Uprising Memorial Museum Ordinance 2025, and the Spatial Planning Ordinance 2025.
The council also approved a proposal to change the existing harassing practices and procedures in the post-handover management of residential plots or flats developed by the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and various authorities or organisations under it, with the aim of simplifying services and eliminating corruption.
It also approved another proposal to set up Bangladesh’s new Consulate General Office in Detroit city, Michigan State, USA.
