Staff Reporter:
The Advisory Council has given final approval to the draft amendment of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 2025, introducing several key reforms ahead of the upcoming national election.
The major amendments include scrapping the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs), reinstating the ‘No Vote’ option, making it mandatory for candidates to disclose their local and foreign income and assets, and barring absconding accused persons from contesting elections.
The approval came at a meeting of the Advisory Council held at the Chief Adviser’s Office on Thursday, with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in the chair.
Briefing reporters at the Foreign Service Academy after the meeting, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said the council approved the Bangladesh Labour Law (Amendment) Ordinance and the RPO 2025 in final form, while the Supreme Court Secretariat Act, Anti-Corruption Commission Act, and July Uprising Memorial Museum Act received policy approval.
He said the most significant change in the RPO is the cancellation of provisions related to EVMs. The chief adviser also directed that the full details of every candidate’s local and foreign income and assets be published on the Election Commission’s website for public access.
Other amendments include reducing the election security deposit from Tk20,000 to Tk500; making banking channels mandatory for political donations above Tk500 along with submission of the donor’s tax return; allowing expatriate voters and election officials abroad to vote by mail; ensuring media presence during vote counting; and empowering the Election Commission to cancel voting in any constituency where widespread irregularities occur.
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam was also present at the briefing.
