Govt amends RPO to hold next polls unilaterally, alleges Ganotantra Mancha

Ganotantra Mancha on Saturday alleged that the government has amended the Representation of the People Order (RPO) to hold the next national election unilaterally, reports UNB.
Speaking at a press conference in the capital, Saiful Haque, the coordinator of the alliance and general secretary of Bangladesh-er Biplobi Workers Party, demanded the government immediately revoke the recent amendments to the RPO for the sake of holding an acceptable and inclusive parliamentary election.
"When the government is preparing for holding yet another rigged and lopsided election, it can be clearly understood curbing the power of the Election Commission to postpone voting is completely an ill-motivated move," he said.
He said the RPO amendment was not acceptable to the country's people in any way. "We call for the immediate withdrawal of the amendment."
Otherwise, Haque warned that they will force the government to annul the RPO amendment and all the measures contrary to a free, fair and democratic election and establish the voting rights of people through a movement.
Haque claimed that the RPO amendment is contrary to the responsibility given to the Election Commission (EC) by the Constitution to conduct free and fair elections.
"Through this amendment, the government tied the hands and feet of the Election Commission. This move of the government will further enhance the arbitrariness, hegemony and authority of the ruling party over the election processes," he observed.