United News of Bangladesh

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Tuesday said the European Union (EU) has put emphasis on reform and assured all sorts of assistance ahead of the next general election. “They (EU) are ready to provide all sorts of assistance. They want a democratic transition to take place. They (EC) assured us of all kinds of support and they will be with us in this process,” he said. The CEC was talking to reporters after a meeting with a delegation, led by EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller, at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital. Nasir Uddin said the EU enquired of the preparations of the Election Commission. The EU was informed that the EC is applying all efforts to ensure a free, fair and credible election.  “We’ve informed them that we’ve moving ahead with our all-out preparation to achieve and deliver commitment,” he said. About electoral reform, he said, “They (EU) are emphasising that the reform process will go on. They (EU) said the time for reform is very short.”  The CEC said when they (EC) informed them that they don’t want the power of the Election Commission to be compromised, the EU appreciated it. “They (EU) said they believe that the EC should be independent,” he said. Voting rights to be restored at any cost: CEC Replying to a question, he said these are suggestions, not pressure from the EU. About election observers, he said the EU has expressed interest in sending observers in the next national election. “If we request, they will send observers," he said. In response to another question, Nasir Uddin said there was no discussion about when the election would be held.  But the timeline for other preparations, starting from the voter list came up for discussion, he said. EU Ambassador Michael Miller said they met the Election Commission to support for holding the next general election in line with international standards. “I’ve come with a message of support for the reforms and visions of the interim government for holding an election in a transparent manner in line with international standards,” he said. Miller said they also asked the CEC what the EU can do to support the EC in the extremely important moment of Bangladesh. Earlier on Tuesday, a two-member EU delegation met separately with the officials of the Election Commission. Later, the EU Embassy in a short message, said the EU thanked the Chief Election Commissioner for their excellent discussion on reforms and preparations for elections "in line with international standards".  The EU is Bangladesh’s long-term partner on these crucial issues. "We look forward to our in-country expert mission’s recommendations for future funding and expertise," said the EU Embassy.

The European Union (EU) has said it looks forward to continuing their collaboration with Bangladesh and exploring new avenues to build partnership, including through a possible Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Bangladesh and the EU. In a recent letter to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen conveyed the message. The EU stands ready to support a reform process, which should be "peaceful and inclusive, respectful of democratic principles, human rights and the rule of law, and lead to transparent, inclusive and credible" elections, the letter shared by Chief Adviser's press wing reads. The President of the European Commission warmly welcomed Dr Yunus' commitment to sustainable development, the green transition, the fight against corruption, and the advancement of digitalisation of financial systems. Dhaka seeks faster Canadian visa processing for Bangladeshi students The EU is already engaging in these issues with Bangladesh. "We remain open to discussing specific needs with sectoral partners and considering additional support that aligns with ongoing initiatives," President von der Leyen said. There is substantial potential under the Global Gateway For EU investments in secure and reliable networks and connectivity, including railways, water resources, climate adaptation, health, digital and energy, she said. In parallel, President von der Leyen said they are working with Dr Yunus' administration to bolster the capacity of key institutions. "We intend to maximise the impact of this work by integrating targeted technical assistance to support policy development and effective governance in these sectors, sharing EU experience where relevant," she said. The President of the European Commission expressed her full commitment to ensure the smooth implementation of EU-Bangladesh cooperation. No discussion regarding CA’s China visit, says Foreign Adviser after his bilateral tour The EU stands ready to establish regular coordination meetings to ensure a strategic dialogue to provide timely updates on EU programmes, thorough reviews of their support, and address new requests to reinforce their shared priorities and strengthen the partnership. She also thanked Dr Yunus for his invitation to visit Bangladesh.