bdnews24.com :
The visiting European MPs expect a “proper democratic” process to be followed in forming a “strong” Election Commission in Bangladesh to hold the next general elections in a “fully participatory” way.
At a press briefing on Thursday, they also urged the government “not to narrow down the fundamental citizen rights” while ensuring security, and strike a “right balance between security and guarantee of freedom of expression.” The six-member trade delegation of the European Parliament, led by Bernd Lange, chair of the Committee on International Trade, has been visiting Bangladesh from Nov 14.
The delegation discussed political issues during its meetings with Parliament Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury,
Political Adviser to the Prime Minister HT Imam, and Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, among others. “Of course the political situation is quite stable (now). But of course as you are going on to hold the next general elections….you have to establish the EC. We hope it’ll be done in a proper democratic way,” Lange said, replying to a question. He, however, did not give any specific suggestions on how Bangladesh would form the EC, saying that it was clear in the country’s constitution.
But he gave the European example, where the 28-country EU ensured “multiparty experts commission” that, Lange said, “guarantee independence and guarantee strong mechanisms for fair elections”.
“And this could be also the mode for establishing the Election Commission here,” he said, adding that during their visit the delegation members had heard there might be a sub-committee to find the “best independent experts” to hold free and fair elections. The current EC that held the last parliamentary elections without the opposition BNP has its term running out in Feb next year.
The visiting European MPs expect a “proper democratic” process to be followed in forming a “strong” Election Commission in Bangladesh to hold the next general elections in a “fully participatory” way.
At a press briefing on Thursday, they also urged the government “not to narrow down the fundamental citizen rights” while ensuring security, and strike a “right balance between security and guarantee of freedom of expression.” The six-member trade delegation of the European Parliament, led by Bernd Lange, chair of the Committee on International Trade, has been visiting Bangladesh from Nov 14.
The delegation discussed political issues during its meetings with Parliament Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury,
Political Adviser to the Prime Minister HT Imam, and Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, among others. “Of course the political situation is quite stable (now). But of course as you are going on to hold the next general elections….you have to establish the EC. We hope it’ll be done in a proper democratic way,” Lange said, replying to a question. He, however, did not give any specific suggestions on how Bangladesh would form the EC, saying that it was clear in the country’s constitution.
But he gave the European example, where the 28-country EU ensured “multiparty experts commission” that, Lange said, “guarantee independence and guarantee strong mechanisms for fair elections”.
“And this could be also the mode for establishing the Election Commission here,” he said, adding that during their visit the delegation members had heard there might be a sub-committee to find the “best independent experts” to hold free and fair elections. The current EC that held the last parliamentary elections without the opposition BNP has its term running out in Feb next year.
