Diplomatic Correspondent :
The European Union (EU) on Monday urged the Election Commission to ensure a genuine, credible, inclusive and transparent election in Bangladesh.
The heads of mission of the European Union nations urged it in a statement issued on Monday.
The signatories to the statement are Head of the EU delegation Ambassador Rensje Teerink, British High Commissioner Alison Blake, Italian Ambassador Mario Palma, Spanish Ambassador D Álvaro de Salas Giménez de Azcárate, Swedish Ambassador Charlotta Schlyter, French Ambassador Marie-Annick Bourdin, German Ambassador Peter Fahrenholtz, Netherlands Ambassador-designate Harry Verweij, Danish Ambassador Winnie Estrup Petersen, Norwegian Ambassador Sidsel Bleken and Switzerland Ambassador René Holenstein.
The heads of mission also urged all stakeholders to uphold and protect the citizens’ rights to universal suffrage, freedom of expression and right to peaceful assembly.They also welcomed the commitments made by Election Commission and Bangladesh government in this respect, the statement added.
In the statement, the heads of mission urged all political parties to meet their democratic responsibilities and to refrain from violence.
It also called upon the law enforcement agencies to strictly adhere to the rule of law; and called the media and civil society to scrutinise the election for transparency.
“Media and civil society’s positive role is important for ensuring transparency throughout this process,” read the statement.
