Foreign diplomats and donors’ representatives want to see a free, fair and participatory election. At a meeting with the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday they wanted to know about the EC’s position and the measures it has taken on the next general elections in Bangladesh. “We wished to know the preparations the Commission is making for ensuring free, fair and participatory parliamentary elections. It is our mutual hope to observe an inclusive election here,” UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Neal Walker, told journalists after the meeting.
He did not elaborate but said, “We exchanged views and expressed our desire to see a free, fair and participatory election.”
At the meeting with the EC, the diplomats and donors of 14 countries also discussed various technical assistance programmes supported by the donors in the country.
Neal Walker said that those countries and partners who are providing support to the electoral process in Bangladesh through the EC have come here today to hear what the commission is doing regarding the cooperation for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
After the meeting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed told reporters that they discussed technical assistances of the donor partners for the EC.
Diplomats of the US, the UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, Japan, Korea, Switzerland, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union (EU) were present at the meeting. All members of the Commission and top officials also attended the meeting.
However, diplomats of China, India, Pakistan and all Middle East countries were not invited to the meeting.
“Everyone is very enthusiastic to see a credible and inclusive election here. The diplomats and donors are no exceptions. We discussed various issues, including the electoral process,” CEC Ahmed said.
“We have a development project with the UNDP. To apprise the donors and diplomats about the development of the project and discuss other issues, we sat with them,” the CEC explained.
He said it was a regular meeting. The EC has conducted several such meetings in the last few years with diplomats and donors. “We told them about the turnout in the five city corporation elections, their results and the participation of the political parties here. However, we have sought further investments from the donors to purchase some election accessories, including ink,” the CEC said.
According to the sources in the EC, this is the first time that the EC is planning to conduct a dialogue with diplomats and donors before the general elections, expected to be held between October 25 and January 24. According to the EC sources, the meeting will discuss the preparatory work done by the EC to conduct a free, fair and participatory election, the amendment to the Representation of the People Order (RPO) and the electoral process.
But the commission has so far refrained from holding a dialogue with the political parties, who are the main stakeholders of the election process. Replying to a question, the CEC said the EC has no plan to conduct any dialogue with the political parties. “After taking charge, we held a dialogue with all stakeholders. Every day we sit with many party activities and leaders here, and our doors are open to all,” the CEC said.
Following the 15th amendment to the Constitution, the ruling party alliance and opposition parties have been sharply divided on the issue of whether the elections should be held under the oversight of a non-party caretaker regime.