United News of Bangladesh

Supporters of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and seven allied political parties have gathered at Paltan in the capital to press their previously announced five-point demand. The rally is scheduled to begin at 2 pm. The decision to hold the rally was announced on November 3 at a press conference by Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque. Leaders present at the press briefing included Islami Andolan Bangladesh Ameer Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim (Charmonai Pir), Maulana Yunus Ahmad, Prof Ashraf Ali Akon, Jamaat leaders Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher and AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, Nizami Islam Party’s Mufti Harun Izhar, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Secretary General Maulana Jalal Uddin, Khelafat Majlish Secretary General Dr Ahmad Abdul Kader, and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA) spokesperson Rashed Pradhan. Supporters of Jamaat, allies gather at Paltan to push for 5-point demand The five-point demand focuses on the implementation of the July Charter and related electoral reforms. The five demands are issuing an order to hold a referendum before the national election over the July National Charter, introducing a proportional representation (PR) system in the upper or both houses, ensuring a level playing field for all parties during the election, ensuring visible justice for all acts of repression, killings, and corruption committed by the previous  government and banning the activities of  Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance. On November 6, Jamaat-e-Islami and seven allied parties submitted a five-point memorandum to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, seeking the implementation of the July Charter and calling for a national referendum ahead of the next general election scheduled for February. Read more: Police intercept Jamaat, Islami Andolon procession near Matsya Bhaban

The government of Bangladesh has issued the “Representation of the People (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025,” with provision that even if registered political parties form an electoral alliance, candidates must contest the polls with their own party symbols. The Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Law Ministry issued a gazette notification in this regard on Monday (3rd November 2025). Earlier, on October 23, the Advisory Council approved the draft amendment of the RPO. During discussions on amending Article 20 related to the use of coalition symbols BNP objected to the change while Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP) demanded the provision remain unchanged. Election 2026: EC directs field officials to arrange polls preparation meetings Ultimately, the government retained the rule that candidates in alliances must contest under their respective party symbols. This means that in the upcoming election, candidates nominated under an alliance cannot use the symbol of a larger or allied party but must use their own registered party symbol. The amended ordinance specifies that if two or more registered political parties agree to jointly nominate a candidate, the Election Commission may allocate the symbol reserved for the candidate’s own political party based on his or her party affiliation. Read more: 12-party alliance for allowing alliance candidates to use partner’s symbol

The Election Commission has taken an initiative to amend the Representation of the People Order (RPO) 1972 ahead of the next general election. The commission meeting to be held on Thursday will discuss the draft amendment ordinance of the RPO 1972. The meeting will be chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital. Then Awami League government brought changes in the RPO in 2023 ahead of the 12th parliamentary election curtailing the EC’s authority over the postponement or cancellation of election which drew criticism from the opposition parties. As per the existing RPO, the EC can postpone or cancel the election result of one or more than one polling stations during the election. According to the amended RPO, the EC can suspend the results of only those (one or more) polling stations where irregularities have been reported after the failure of law enforcement agencies to stop anomalies. EC taking strong steps to curb AI misuse ahead of national election: CEC But the commission can’t suspend or cancel the entire election result of a constituency due to irregularities in one or some polling station.   The amendment came after the Election Commission cancelled the Gaibandha-5 parliamentary by-election due to irregularities. As part of the election preparation, the current commission, headed by AMM Nasir Uddin, has already approved in principle the draft Parliamentary Election Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates 2025. The draft code will be finalised and subjected to the RPO amendment. Besides, the commission meeting will discuss the possible amendments regarding several laws including the Election Commission Secretariat (Amendment) Ordinance and the Election Officers (Special Provision) Act, as well as the affidavits of candidates and the administrative and financial authorities of EC Secretariat’s officials.  

There will be no dialogue with the BNP over any unrealistic proposals, said Law Minister Anisul Huq on Sunday (July 09, 2023). “Election is the only solution and there will be no dialogue with the BNP on any unrealistic proposals, besides the prime minister has directly said that no dialogue will be held with them,” he said while talking to reporters after inaugurating a training course for judges and judicial officers at the Judicial Administration Training Institute (JATI). Read more: No dialogue with BNP on caretaker govt: Info Minister Talking about the RPO ('Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2023 of the Election Commission, the power of EC was not curbed rather the rights of people are conserved through the amendment of RPO. Replying to a question about the allegation raised by the BNP that the government has sent a letter to the justice and police to dispose of the cases against the BNP leaders and activities within two months, the law minister said “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led government has established the rule of law and there is no doubt in it. If they (BNP) showed any letter over it then there will be discussion. I think they (BNP) are active in making false issues failing to find any other issue. I firmly said that neither any letter has been issued in this regard nor any verbal order.” Read more: Law enforcers are being used to secure ruling party’s interests: Rizvi

BNP on Friday strongly opposed the Election Commission’s (EC’s) proposal for scrapping its direct power to cancel the candidature of candidates by amending the Representation of the People Order (RPO), saying it is a 'suicidal' move.