We welcome the Election Commission (EC) move to introduce ‘no vote’ option to prevent any candidates from getting elected uncontested as Member of Parliament (MP). As per media report, the EC has drafted the Representation of the People’s Order (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 proposing major changes, including ‘no vote’ provision, deployment of the armed forces as a law enforcement agency and barring candidates from contesting polls in more than two constituencies.
The draft RPO has also enhanced the EC’s authority to stop the polls and cancel the candidacy of an elected lawmaker even after election on charge of inconsistent or false information provided in an affidavit.
The EC has incorporated ‘no vote’ option to ensure that no one is elected uncontested. If only one person remains as a candidate in a constituency after scrutiny or withdrawal of candidature, that candidate must contest against ‘no vote’ option. If ‘no vote’ gets more ballots than the candidate, a fresh schedule will be announced, and if the candidate gets votes higher than ‘no vote’ option, he/she will be declared elected.
Under the existing Article of the RPO, one can contest parliamentary elections in more than three constituencies, but the proposed amendment does not allow a person to contest in more than two constituencies.
The EC has incorporated ‘no vote’ option to ensure
that no one is elected uncontested. If only one person
remains as a candidate in a constituency after scrutiny
or withdrawal of candidature, that candidate
must contest against ‘no vote’ option
“The draft RPO is almost finalised. It will soon be sent to the law ministry (to make it a law by promulgating an ordinance),” Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said on Sunday. The draft RPO, if passed, would allow the EC to stop voting in a whole constituency for irregularities in the polls, he added.
The Armed Forces— Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Air Force—have been added to the definition of law enforcement agencies like Bangladesh Police, Armed Police Battalion, Rapid Action Battalion, Border Guard Bangladesh and Coast Guard.
Two new provisions— Articles 5(3) and 5(4) of the RPO, 1972 —have been inserted to ensure the EC’s dominance and enhance its authority over the government officials and departments.
The Article 5(3) stipulates that if any dispute arises between the government and the EC regarding assistance, the EC’s requirements shall take precedence. The Article 5(4) authorises the EC to take necessary action against any officer, employee or department if it is satisfied that they have neglected their duties.
The draft RPO allows the EC to investigate any affidavit or statement of income-expenditure return submitted by an elected candidate for discrepancies or false information even after the election. If, after hearing and investigation, the EC thinks that such discrepancies exist in a constituency, it can declare the candidacy unlawful, cancel the election, and arrange fresh polls in that constituency.
We think the Election Commission is on the right track towards holding the next national election in a free, fair and credible manner, and the proposed RPO amendment is aimed at achieving this goal.
