The United Nations has said it will not send observers to Bangladesh unless mandated by the UN General Assembly or the Security Council.

"No.  We do not… the UN itself doesn’t send observers unless there is a mandate from the General Assembly or the Security Council. So that’s no longer something that we do," said Spokesman for the Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric at the regular media briefing at the UN Headquarters on January 5.

He made the remarks when a journalist wanted to know whether the United Nations will send any observer to the election, scheduled to be held on February 12.

"I can check for you whether the UN country office is offering any technical support, which is something that we often do in terms of the elections," said the UN Spokesman.

As a journalist asked how the UN views BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s return after 17 years in the context of Bangladesh’s democratic transition, the Spokesman said, “I’m not an assessor of news. Journalists assess news. So, we I mean, we will support in any way we can elections and the free expression by the Bangladeshi people of their political vision for their country.”

Asked about former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, the Spokesman said they will obviously send condolences to her family and to the people of Bangladesh on her passing.