The Election Exploratory Mission (ExM) from the European Union (EU) on Sunday held meetings with civil society members as part of their series of meetings to assess the situation ahead of the next parliamentary elections in Bangladesh.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Badiul Alam Majumdar of SHUJAN (Citizens for Good Governance) said the entire electoral process should be transparent and free from any manipulation.
He said there should be credible alternative candidates so that voters can pick their choice, and they need to be allowed to cast their votes without any fear. Majumdar also said the vote counting should be done accurately.
Chief Executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) Syeda Rizwana Hasan told reporters that she was asked about the independence of the judiciary and the legal framework as far as elections are concerned.
She said they asked how the election law violators would be brought to justice.
CPD Executive Director Dr Fahmida Khatun said the EU, a major development partner of Bangladesh and the largest export market, wants a strong democratic process in Bangladesh to sustain the development that it has achieved so far. They wanted to know how a free, fair, peaceful election goal can be held.
Read: Free, fair, credible election unlikely under incumbent govt: AB Party tells EU Mission
Dr Mahfuz Kabir, Research Director at Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) said the international community is much interested about the next election and the overall situation remains very positive now.
Chief Executive Officer of the election observation group “Brotee” Sharmeen Murshid and Chairman of Jatiya Nirbachon Parjabekkhon Parishad (Janipop) Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah also held meetings with the EU delegation.
On July 15, the delegation held meetings with major political parties.
The visiting delegation began their activities in Bangladesh last week to assess the situation on the ground ahead of the country’s upcoming national election. Delegation leader Riccardo Chelleri and his team held a number of meetings so far including with diplomats stationed in Dhaka. The EU delegation will be in Bangladesh till July 23 to assess the situation.
A technical team of the mission will further discuss the relevant issues with the EC on July 18,19.
The main objective of the Election Exploratory Mission is to assess the “advisability, usefulness and feasibility” of a possible EU Election Observation Mission for the upcoming parliamentary election, according to the EU Mission in Dhaka.
Read: EU wants free, fair and peaceful election—also a commitment of AL: Quader
European Union (EU) Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley laid emphasis on peaceful, fair and participatory elections in Bangladesh, as an Election Exploratory Mission (ExM) from the bloc continued holding meetings with various actors, including political parties, civil society groups and security forces.
"We very much encourage peaceful, free, fair and participatory elections in Bangladesh as a friend and partner of Bangladesh," Whiteley told reporters, after a meeting with Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader recently.
"You know they are here to decide and recommend whether the EU should deploy a full election observation mission. So, it is a good opportunity to speak with the Minister about this and the EU's support," said the EU envoy, adding that they had open discussions on relevant issues.
Read more: Not possible to go to polls under AL: BNP tells EU delegation