Bangladesh bars convicts from contesting polls

The Bangladesh cabinet Monday approved a draft law barring convicted war criminals from contesting national elections, a media report said.

According to the draft Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 2013, a person who is convicted under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973, would not be allowed to take part in any national elections, reported the Daily Star.

Cabinet Secretary Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said the draft would be placed before parliament for approval, the report said.

The draft also proposed increasing the deposit money of parliamentary poll contestants from taka 10,000 ($129) to Tk 20,000 ($257), it added.