Foreign diplomats in Dhaka, different international organisations and election observers from different countries have intensified their efforts centring the upcoming 12th National Election in Bangladesh.
As part of their mission, they already have started contracting with different bodies of the government so that they could engage their representatives as observers in the upcoming national election in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, immediately after the departure of the six-member Election Exploratory Mission (ExM) from the European Union (EU), another six-member delegation drawing from six different countries is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on July 28 to assess the pre-election situation.
Besides, a four-member delegation from four more countries is also scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on September 15.
The EU ExM delegation left Dhaka in the early hours of July 23 after a two-week visit to Bangladesh. The EU delegation departed Dhaka after holding around 100 meetings, including with the Prime Minister, different ministers, political parties, Election Commission, Bangladesh Police, representatives from civil society, media, NGOs and other stakeholders.
Meanwhile, a four-member delegation led by US undersecretary for civilian
security, democracy and human rights had a four-day visit to Bangladesh
from July 11 to July 14. She was accompanied by Donald Lu, assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia, and Anjali Kaur, deputy assistant administrator of the USAID Asia Bureau.
Moreover, diplomats from different embassies and missions in Dhaka have also become active centring the next parliamentary election in Bangladesh. They remain busy with holding meetings and discussions with different political parties aimed at ensuring a free and fair election in a peaceful manner.
The Election Monitoring Forum (EMF) at a press conference at Jatiya Press Club
on Monday said that a six-member delegation from US, UK, Ireland, South
Korea, Japan, and China is coming to Dhaka on July 28. EMF Chairman Prof Abed Ali, in his written speech, said that at the invitation of the EMF, the delegation from those six countries will arrive in Dhaka to assess the capacity of the Election Commission and possible participation of the political parties in the next national election.
“The delegation will also hold a ‘citizen dialogue’ on July 29. The delegation will
hold separate meetings with the Election Commission officials on
July 30 and 31,” said the EMF Chairman.
Besides, he said, the delegation is also scheduled to call on the Law Minister, the Home Minister, the Minister for Information and Broadcasting and the State Minister for Foreign Affairs.
“The team members are also willing to hold separate meetings with ruling Awami League, main opposition in the parliament Jatiya Party, opposition BNP, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Islamic Front, Zaker Party, Islamic Front
Bangladesh, Krishok-Shramik-Janata League, JSD, Islami Oikya Jote and different other political parties”, said the EMF Chairman.
Led by US political analyst Terry L. Easley, other members of the delegation are European Union political affairs journalist Nick Paul from Ireland, South Korean human rights activist Park Chung Chang, Japanese social activist Yusufie Sugu, UK author and researcher Michael John Sheriff and Chinese political analyst Andy Lin, he added.
The EMF Chairman informed that this six-member delegation from six-separate countries-- US, UK, Ireland, South Korea, Japan, and China—is the second team,
arriving in Dhaka.
“Earlier on February 24, a four-member delegation from four separate
countries—Germany, India, Nepal and Bhutan—had a visit to Bangladesh. That
delegation also had several meetings with different political parties and members of the civil society”, said Prof Abed Ali.
Moreover, the EMF Chairman said that at the invitation of the EMF, another
delegation with representatives from Maldives, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and
Bhutan is also expected to arrive in Dhaka on September 15.
