Foreign diplomats have expressed their satisfaction at the Election Commission’s (EC) preparations to hold Bangladesh’s upcoming parliamentary elections in a free, fair and peaceful manner.
“They (foreign diplomats) are satisfied with our poll preparations, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal told journalists after a meeting with over 50 foreign diplomats at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka on Thursday.
Emerging form the meeting, Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen told journalists that he is happy with the EC’s poll preparations to hold a free, fair and peaceful election.
“I hope that the upcoming nation election will be successful and it is going to be a milestone in the Bangladesh’s democratic process,” the China envoy added.
European Union (EU) Ambassador Charles Whiteley told journalists that he heard about EC’s preparations for holding the national election.
When asked whether he is satisfied with the election atmosphere, he refrained from making any comments.
United Nations Resident Representative Luen Guis, US Ambassador to Dhaka Peter Haas, British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke, Head of European Union (EU) Charles Whiteley, ambassadors of different countries, heads of missions abroad, heads of international organisations and resident representatives of UNDP in Bangladesh were present.
Explaining the reason for briefing the foreign envoys/ diplomats on poll preparations, the CEC said, “We invited foreign diplomats on behalf of the EC to inform them of our poll preparations.
They (foreign diplomats) always show interest in our election. Earlier, they visited our office (EC) at different times and exchanged views with us. They want to see free, fair and peaceful in Bangladesh.”
The CEC said, “We briefed them about our last-minute preparation. They asked a few questions. One of the questions that came up is how many complaints we are getting.”
“We (EC) informed them that we have so far received about 600 complaints of poll code breach. Of them, 400 complaints have been taken into consideration,” the CEC added.
Kazi Habibul Awal further said that the Election Commission is not pressuring anyone to cast their vote, rather they are encouraging to exercise their democratic rights.
He also told the foreign envoys that eight lakh members of law enforcement agencies have been deployed across the country to maintain law and order during polls and they will remain in the field till the voting day.
