At a press briefing on Thursday afternoon at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, Law Adviser Professor Asif Nazrul and the Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam presented key aspects of the proposed amendments to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), which had been approved earlier at a meeting of the Advisory Council chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at his Tejgaon office.

According to the proposed amendment, individuals declared as fugitives in any criminal case will not be eligible to contest in the national parliamentary elections.

Explaining the provision, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said that persons formally declared absconders by a court—after failing to appear despite summons or public notice—will be disqualified from contesting. “When the court issues an order, publishes a notice in newspapers, and the person still doesn’t appear, the court declares them as fugitives. That’s when the rule applies,” he explained.

Earlier this month, the International Crimes Tribunal Act was also amended to bar anyone formally charged with crimes against humanity from participating in national or local government elections.

The new RPO amendment comes amid ongoing trials at the International Crimes Tribunal concerning killings during last year’s July coup. Several senior leaders of the now-banned Awami League are being prosecuted on charges of crimes against humanity. Many others, including former ministers and lawmakers, went into hiding after the party was ousted, facing various charges including corruption, murder, and attempted murder. Those who have been officially declared fugitives by the court will now be ineligible to contest in any election.