Parliament will remain a club for millionaires as before: Bazlur Rashid

BaSaD General Secretary Bazlur Rashid Firoz has strongly criticized the Election Commission’s recent proposal to amend the Representation of the People Order (RPO), which includes raising the candidate deposit and increasing the election expense limit. He warned that these changes would effectively turn the parliament into a club exclusively for millionaires, sidelining ordinary citizens from contesting elections.

In a statement released on Friday, Bazlur Rashid said, “The proposed increase of the candidate deposit from Tk 20,000 to Tk 50,000, along with raising the election spending limit to between Tk 50 lakh and Tk 78 lakh based on a rate of Tk 10 per voter, will make it difficult for average citizens to participate in elections. This will ensure that parliament remains dominated by the wealthy, going against the spirit of the 2024 people's uprising.”

He also criticized the selective introduction of a ‘no’ vote option only for single-candidate constituencies, warning that it could restrict voters’ ability to express their opinions. Furthermore, Bazlur Rashid expressed concerns over the Election Commission’s move to cancel the online nomination submission system, arguing that it will complicate and hinder the smooth and safe filing of candidacies.

Highlighting broader issues, Bazlur Rashid opposed granting the armed forces the power to arrest individuals without prior permission, cautioning that such a move would increase repression and open the door to potential misuse of power.

He also warned against new provisions that would disqualify candidates based on allegations at the International Crimes Tribunal or on the basis of fugitive status, saying such rules violate the principle of presumption of innocence and could fuel political vendettas.

The BaSaD leader urged the Election Commission to reconsider its proposals by lowering the candidate deposit to Tk 5,000, reducing the election spending cap to Tk 300,000, introducing the ‘no’ vote option for multiple candidates, maintaining the online nomination process, and rejecting measures that give unchecked arrest powers to security forces or that disqualify candidates on unproven charges.