EU

Photo: Collected

Whole world wants to see participatory elections in Bangladesh: EU

He said, "There was a detailed exchange of views on the Parliament elections. The Chief Election Commissioner and his team participated in the open discussion. I have learned about the overall preparation of the election. We hope that the elections will be democratic, acceptable and inclusive. The whole world wants to see it too."

At this time he said that he did not want to take any questions. Journalists still want to know if there was any discussion about the polling environment. Whiteley replied, "No thanks."

Apart from Whiteley, ambassadors from seven EU countries were present at the two-hour meeting from 3 pm to 5 pm. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal, four other Election Commissioners and senior EC officials attended the meeting.

After the meeting, CEC Kazi Habibul Awal said, "They have come several times before. They said that an expert election observation team will come. Four people have already arrived. They have known about our preparations for a long time. Little did they know that our preparations were far advanced. They still came today, we told them what progress we have made in the meantime. We have made it clear as before that we are doing our utmost to ensure that the elections are free-fair, peaceful and credible."

CEC said, "We have informed them that our honorable commissioners have been traveling outside for the past two weeks and have apprised the people and the administration of the issues. So that administrations coordinate all their energies locally; To ensure free, impartial and participatory elections. They are satisfied with our statement. We are constitutionally bound to hold elections within the stipulated time. We have made it very clear to them. I believe, they have understood our constitutional limitations."

In response to a question, he said, "If there is any disagreement or division in the political arena, we cannot interfere in any way."