Staff Reporter :
A UN spokesperson has said that the United Nations (UN) is observing the current political situation in Bangladesh and the next general election.
“The UN is pertaining the current situation in Bangladesh and the country’s next general election,” Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, told journalists during a press briefing at the UN headquarters in the US on Friday.
He said the UN is aware of the latest developments on the ground and are monitoring it.
Replying to a question, Farhan Haq said, the UN gives priority to an inclusive, credible and transparent election in Bangladesh.
“Our priorities are the need for the elections in Bangladesh to be inclusive, credible and transparent, so we’ll continue to study the arrangements and see whether those particular priorities are upheld,” he added.
He said Bangladesh has announced the election schedule on the eve of Christmas on December 23. The country’s main opposition parties are holding dialogue with the government demading a conducive election atmosphere and level-playing field .
“But the dialogue did not reach any conclusions or any demands of the opponents were not accepted. In such a situation, the chief election commissioner declared the election schedule. The opposition parties and civil society groups have opposed the one-sided election schedule.
“The UN has been asking for a free, fair and credible election in any way,” he added.
