Bangladesh
Sheikh Hasina Sheikh Hasina asks Commonwealth to send election observers
Dhaka, May 8: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called on the Commonwealth to send observers of various levels to monitor the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Commonwealth Secretary General Baroness Patricia Scotland paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the United Kingdom on Sunday (May 7). The Prime Minister made this call that time.
After the meeting, Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen briefed the journalists in the bilateral meeting room of Claridges Hotel.
He said, "Our Prime Minister has raised the issue of elections and proposed to send election observers at various levels from the Commonwealth to observe the upcoming parliamentary elections."
In response, the Commonwealth Secretary General said that they want to help Bangladesh in holding peaceful, fair and participatory general elections. They have helped organize fair elections in some of the organization's member countries.
The foreign minister said, "In that case, political commitment is required from all political parties that they will participate in the elections, accept the results of the elections and not resort to violence if they win or lose the elections."
"They want to help us (in holding free and fair elections) and we welcome them. We also want elections to be held in a free and fair manner. The Commonwealth Secretary General has also offered to train the election officials of Bangladesh at the district level as in the past," Momen said.
Meanwhile, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina said that she had established democracy and people's right to vote through a long struggle after returning to Bangladesh in 1981. Her government strengthened the democratic process in the country by making the Election Commission (EC) independent and strong by enacting the necessary legislation. Pointing to BNP and Jatiya Party, she said his party is made up of people, some of them are from cantonments.
Momen said apart from elections, artificial intelligence, climate, mental health and digital connectivity were discussed in the meeting.
He said that the Prime Minister expressed interest that Bangladesh wants to lead in artificial intelligence from next June. Bangladesh is now leading business-oriented events with Commonwealth businesses. He said that the Commonwealth Secretary General has agreed on these issues.
