Diplomatic Correspondent :
Bangladesh on Sunday expressed its disappointment at the statement of the US State Department about cancellation of the visas of their observers in the upcoming general election, the Foreign Ministry said.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the ministry said, “As one of the largest democratic counting in the world and mutually respectful to others, Bangladesh would “expect and welcome constructive statements towards its democratic process from its friends and partners.”
“The decision of Asian Network for Free Election (ANFREL) to cancel its observation mission is entirely their own despite the fact that nearly half of its applicants have already been approved and the rest is under process,” the statement said.
The election is being conducted by the Bangladesh Election Commission, which is a constitutional body and independent in the exercise of its functions, said the foreign office.
In a statement, the US State Department said they are disappointed that the approvals were not provided “within the timeframe necessary to conduct a credible international monitoring mission to the majority of international election monitors from the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), which the United States funded through the National Democratic Institute.”
As a result, ANFREL was forced to cancel its observation mission for the 11th national election, said State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino on Saturday.
The US statement also called for ensuring space for peaceful expression and assembly in the lead up to the elections.
In response, the foreign ministry said that it welcomes international observers, but also bears the responsibility of ensuring that the applicants meet the required criterion as per the laws and guidelines of the Election Commission.
“As of now, 175 foreign election observers from different countries and organisations have been accredited to undertake election monitoring missions in Bangladesh. “Accreditation of international election observers from a number of organisations including the ANFREL is currently under process.
“In addition, the Election Commission has registered 118 local organisations and also approved 25,920 local observers to monitor the polls.
Odhikar, an NGO of Bangladesh, is the founding member of ANFREL. ‘Odhikar is widely known for its disproportionate bias and prejudice against Bangladesh, in particular the government of Awami League, which is evident in its various reports, including the recent ones published in October and December 2018.’
Besides, according to foreign ministry statement, one of the top-ranking Bangladesh members of Odhikar was earlier appointed by the BNP-Jamaat government as the deputy attorney general, which provides ground for disqualification of his organisation and related entities as independent and neutral observer of the general election.
While Bangladesh welcomes international election observers to observe the election, it certainly has the responsibility to ensure that the applicants meet all the required criteria as per applicable laws and guidelines of the Election Commission, reads the statement.
As of now, 175 foreign election observers from different countries and organizations have been accredited to undertake election monitoring missions in Bangladesh.
Accreditation of international election observers from a number of organisations, including ANFREL, is currently under process, said the ministry. In addition, the Election Commission has registered 118 local organisations and also approved 25,920 local observers to monitor the polls.
Under Section 91 (C) (1) of the Representation of the People Order 1972, the Commission is supposed to ‘permit a person as election observer who is in no way associated with or affiliated to any political party or contesting candidate and who is not known for his sympathy, direct or indirect, for any particular political ideology, creed or cause or for any manifesto, programme, aims or objects of any political party or contesting candidate’.
As one of the largest democratic counting in the world and mutually respectful to others, Bangladesh would expect and welcome constructive statements towards its democratic process from its friends and partners, said the ministry.
Bangladesh has reiterated that it Bangladesh would continue to grant credentials to eligible international and local election observers to observe the 11th national parliamentary elections to be held on December 30.
Bangladesh on Sunday expressed its disappointment at the statement of the US State Department about cancellation of the visas of their observers in the upcoming general election, the Foreign Ministry said.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the ministry said, “As one of the largest democratic counting in the world and mutually respectful to others, Bangladesh would “expect and welcome constructive statements towards its democratic process from its friends and partners.”
“The decision of Asian Network for Free Election (ANFREL) to cancel its observation mission is entirely their own despite the fact that nearly half of its applicants have already been approved and the rest is under process,” the statement said.
The election is being conducted by the Bangladesh Election Commission, which is a constitutional body and independent in the exercise of its functions, said the foreign office.
In a statement, the US State Department said they are disappointed that the approvals were not provided “within the timeframe necessary to conduct a credible international monitoring mission to the majority of international election monitors from the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), which the United States funded through the National Democratic Institute.”
As a result, ANFREL was forced to cancel its observation mission for the 11th national election, said State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino on Saturday.
The US statement also called for ensuring space for peaceful expression and assembly in the lead up to the elections.
In response, the foreign ministry said that it welcomes international observers, but also bears the responsibility of ensuring that the applicants meet the required criterion as per the laws and guidelines of the Election Commission.
“As of now, 175 foreign election observers from different countries and organisations have been accredited to undertake election monitoring missions in Bangladesh. “Accreditation of international election observers from a number of organisations including the ANFREL is currently under process.
“In addition, the Election Commission has registered 118 local organisations and also approved 25,920 local observers to monitor the polls.
Odhikar, an NGO of Bangladesh, is the founding member of ANFREL. ‘Odhikar is widely known for its disproportionate bias and prejudice against Bangladesh, in particular the government of Awami League, which is evident in its various reports, including the recent ones published in October and December 2018.’
Besides, according to foreign ministry statement, one of the top-ranking Bangladesh members of Odhikar was earlier appointed by the BNP-Jamaat government as the deputy attorney general, which provides ground for disqualification of his organisation and related entities as independent and neutral observer of the general election.
While Bangladesh welcomes international election observers to observe the election, it certainly has the responsibility to ensure that the applicants meet all the required criteria as per applicable laws and guidelines of the Election Commission, reads the statement.
As of now, 175 foreign election observers from different countries and organizations have been accredited to undertake election monitoring missions in Bangladesh.
Accreditation of international election observers from a number of organisations, including ANFREL, is currently under process, said the ministry. In addition, the Election Commission has registered 118 local organisations and also approved 25,920 local observers to monitor the polls.
Under Section 91 (C) (1) of the Representation of the People Order 1972, the Commission is supposed to ‘permit a person as election observer who is in no way associated with or affiliated to any political party or contesting candidate and who is not known for his sympathy, direct or indirect, for any particular political ideology, creed or cause or for any manifesto, programme, aims or objects of any political party or contesting candidate’.
As one of the largest democratic counting in the world and mutually respectful to others, Bangladesh would expect and welcome constructive statements towards its democratic process from its friends and partners, said the ministry.
Bangladesh has reiterated that it Bangladesh would continue to grant credentials to eligible international and local election observers to observe the 11th national parliamentary elections to be held on December 30.
