RPO rules relaxed for loan defaulters
GBDESK//
The cabinet yesterday gave the final nod to the draft Representation of the People (amendment) Act 2023 with a provision that allows candidates to reschedule loans or bills they defaulted on a day prior to collecting nomination papers.
Experts say this will give loan defaulters more opportunities to run.
At the moment, potential candidates can reschedule default loans or bills seven days before collecting their nomination papers.
Former election commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Shakhawat Hossain said, “A candidate who can reschedule loans a day before the collection of nomination paper must have the ability to do the same a month prior.”
“It is not difficult to manage banks to reschedule default loans. It will not serve any purpose,” he said.
While briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting, Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain said, “As per a provision, the authority has been given [to the Election Commission] to postpone or cancel the result of one or more than one polling stations at any time during the election … .” The EC can cancel voting and the results, he said.
Responding to a question, he said the proposed law does not mention the cancellation of an entire election.
“A candidate who can reschedule loans a day before the collection of nomination paper must have the ability to do the same a month prior.”
Mahbub said, “Currently, one can appeal against the returning officer’s decision to reject a nomination paper. In the proposed law, a provision has been incorporated for the right to appeal against any decision of the returning officer.”
The draft sets a new deadline, 2030, for political parties to have 33 percent women in leadership positions. The current deadline expired in 2020.
The cabinet yesterday also approved the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority Act 2023 and the Secured Transaction (moveable property) Act 2023. It approved in principle the draft Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (amendment) Act 2023.
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