The parliament passed a bill on February 24 ratifying the Representation of the People's Order (amendment) ordinance, which restricted the Election Commission's power to cancel registration of political parties for non-compliance of the criteria set by the commission, including election of committee members at all levels, keeping at least 33 per cent committee posts for women, including the central committee, by the year 2020, and nominating candidates for parliamentary polls as per recommendations of the grassroots members.
President of the Political Science Association, Ataur Rahman, who is also a teacher of political science at Dhaka University, said, 'It is unfortunate that the Election Commission's initiative to bring the political parties under a framework of practising intra-party democracy and compelling them to empower women has been nipped in the bud. They [political parties] will now be free from the obligations of practising intra-party democracy and other tasks [set by the EC].'
'The constitutions of the political parties might be democratic, but the possibility of exercising intra-party democracy will be shrinking with the passage of the bill amending the electoral laws,' Dilara Chowdhury, a teacher of Government and Politics department at Jahangirnagar University told New Age on Wednesday.
With the passage of the act, the EC ceases to have the authority to take punitive steps against the registered political parties even if they do not elect members of the committee at all levels, including the central committee, and nominate candidates for parliamentary elections from outside the panel forwarded by the grassroots members.
The EC can take no action also if a party forms or continues with the existing organisations of teachers, students, workers and employees as well as backs away from their pledge to keep reserved for women at least 33 per cent of the posts at all committees, including the central committee, by the year 2020.
The chairman of Transparency International Bangladesh, professor Muzaffer Ahmad, noted that the EC should reserve the power of cancelling the registration of political parties for violating the criteria.
He said, 'The ordinance was promulgated after consultation with the political parties aiming to bring reforms in their practices. If the political leaders scrap the criteria in parliament, it will not be good for democratic practice. Our political culture will return to its past and there will be little chance for reform.'
Shirin Akhter, president of the Karmajibi Nari, also a central leader of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, said, 'All political parties are not yet prepared to achieve the goal of keeping at least 33 per cent of all committee positions reserved for women. In this context it will be better for empowerment of women if the threat of registration cancellation remains. It will help democratising the political process.'
Akbar Ali Khan, former adviser to the caretaker government, however, said, 'The constitution did not give any responsibility to the EC to supervise the political parties' function. The EC during the caretaker administration made excesses by setting the criterion for registration of political parties. I do not think scrapping of the criterion will have any adverse impact [on democracy]. The EC can only see whether the parties' funds are regularly audited and if they comply with their constitutions.'