Bangladesh News

In reversal of its earlier stance, the Awami League (AL) yesterday strongly opposed the Election Commission’s (EC) authority to cancel candidatures in parliamentary polls on grounds of violation of electoral laws.

At a meeting with the EC, a high-level AL delegation categorically said no candidature can be cancelled on any excuse after being accepted through scrutiny. The commission assured the AL of not misusing the authority.

The AL also refused to sever links with its associated organisations, particularly those formed with students and labourers, arguing that these bodies have played historic role in the past.

In the face of the AL’s opposition, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda said political parties do not need to completely sever ties with all front or associated organisations to meet the registration criteria.

“Only dissolve the organisations formed with students, teachers and labourers in the party constitution and make separate rules and by-laws, if necessary, regarding these bodies,” Huda came up with the proposal to end differences between the parties and the EC over auxiliary organisations.

The CEC, however, did not explain how a political party will make separate rules or by-laws regarding front or associated organisations if its constitution does not have provisions recognising them as auxiliary organisations.

In response, the AL delegation told the EC that they might dissolve the two associated organisations formed with students and labours if the party’s central working committee approves.

The working committee, the highest policymaking body of the AL, is scheduled to sit on Saturday to discuss the registration issue.

After the meeting with the EC that lasted for over two hours, the AL collected registration forms to apply to the commission.

Acting AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said the associated organisations would exist in the party constitution.

At the discussion the AL leaders also asked the EC to persuade the caretaker government to lift the state of emergency to ensure free and fair election with participation of all major political parties. They also asked the EC to take steps to ensure participation of all major political parties to make the election acceptable and credible.

They also asked the commission to scrap the provision that debarred defaulters of utility services bills from contesting the upcoming parliamentary polls and urged it not to allow organisations biased to a particular political party to observe the polls.

The party delegation led by its Presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury also asked the EC to reconsider the upazila polls dates.

At the beginning of the meeting, the CEC explained the latest amendments to the revised Representation of the People Order (RPO).

Two election commissioners Muhammed Sohul Hussain and Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain were present at the discussion held at the EC Secretariat conference room.

AUTHORITY TO CANCEL CANDIDATURES
In its third round electoral talks with the EC, the AL did not oppose the commission’s proposal for having the authority to cancel candidatures in the parliamentary polls for irregularities.

But at yesterday’s meeting, the party termed the authority unacceptable.

“We have strong objections to the authority which was incorporated afresh,” AL Presidium member Tofail Ahmed said.

In a quick response, the CEC said it was not incorporated afresh; rather it has been there since the beginning.

Tofail then said no matter the provision is new or old, it is “unacceptable and unrealistic” to cancel one’s candidature after accepting it through scrutiny. “Conspirators might initiate steps to prompt the commission to cancel one’s candidature,” he said.

At this stage, the CEC told the AL delegation that none but only the EC itself can exercise the authority after launching enquiry into the allegations.

Huda said two or three more political parties have also objected to the authority.

“You should keep confidence in us. If you find any instance of misusing the authority, you political parties can repeal the authority after forming the government,” he said.

Before the 2001 parliamentary polls, the EC was empowered with the authority to cancel candidature. But in the face of strong opposition from political parties, the then caretaker government repealed the authority. The present caretaker government revived it last August.

AUXILARY ORGANISATIONS
According to the revised RPO, political parties willing to get registered with the EC to qualify for contesting the parliamentary polls must include specific provisions in party constitutions prohibiting formation of any organisation or body as its affiliated or associated body consisting of teachers and students of any educational institution or employees or labourers of any financial, commercial or industrial institution or establishment or members of any other profession.

During the arguments with the AL, the CEC, however, said political parties do not need to sever ties with front or associated organisations formed with farmers, weavers, women and youths.

“But no political parties willing to get registered are allowed to form organisations with teachers, students and labourers,” the CEC added.

In response, the AL delegation termed the provision discriminatory and against the equal rights guaranteed by the country’s constitution.

“You allow all other professionals to be associated with political parties, then why will students and labourers have to be punished?” AL Presidium member Motia Chowdhury said.

The AL leaders also said the provision is against the ILO convention that allows labourers to do politics.

Referring to the RPO provision, the CEC said teachers, students and labourers can form organisations independently. Citing an example, Huda said formation of Jatiyatabadi Chikitshak Forum is illegal as its members are government employees and take salaries from the public exchequer.

He proposed incorporating a new provision in the AL constitution specifying that students, teachers and labourers can form their own organisations but cannot exist as associated organisations in the party charter.

“You can make them associated organisations later by making fresh rules,” the CEC added.

In reply, Tofail said, “We will go to the party’s working committee to dissolve associated organisations in the constitution. We will come back to you again if the working committee does not approve dissolving of the associated bodies.”

On the latest amendment to the RPO allowing political parties to get registered with the EC by submitting provisional constitution in line with the registration criteria, Tofail said the ratification of the provisional constitution is subject to the approval of the national council.

“We cannot forecast now that the national council will ratify the provisional constitution,” Tofail said, referring to the latest amendment that say the provisional constitution must be ratified within six months of the first sitting of the new parliament.

LOCAL OBSERVERS
The AL leaders asked the EC not to allow organisations biased to particular political parties to observe the parliamentary polls.

Naming Democracy Watch, Khan Foundation, Fema and Odhikar as biased to a particular political party, they asked the EC not to allow them to observe the polls.

AL Advisory Committee member HT Imam said the party would send detailed information about a few other organisations specifying their links with political parties.

In response, the CEC said the organisations to observe the parliamentary election would also have to get registered with the EC.

“On receiving applications, we will publish a public notice inviting objections. If you have objections to any organisation, you can file then and we will consider,” Huda said.

The CEC informed that a code of conduct for television channels and newspapers is being prepared to prevent misuse of the media during the election. The Unesco has already prepared a draft of the code of conduct.

POLLS ACTIVITIES
Replying to a query from the AL delegation, the CEC said the EC would announce the schedule for parliamentary polls on November 1 or 2.

AL Presidium member Tofail said there are 69 days ahead of the polls but political parties cannot still start electoral activities because of the state of emergency. Political parties got about one year’s time to prepare for the 1970 election held under martial law, he said.

The CEC said political parties can start their electoral activities in full swing from now. “If the government creates any obstacle, we will look into the matter. But no party can begin electoral campaign until three weeks of the polls,” CEC Huda said.