New draft amendments to the RPO also mandate income tax returns, stricter affidavit rules

Former Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain in an interview with The Daily Star.

The EC's rush in revising the RPO meant allowing the ruling party to impose their wish in the codification process.

The amendment of the Representation of the People Order (RPO) comes at a critical juncture when the demand for holding a free and fair election in Bangladesh is getting louder at home and abroad

The prospect of a free and fair election is still eluding us.

Proposed curbing of EC’s power sends a wrong message at the wrong time