EU election mission stresses security, participation ahead of Bangladesh polls

The European Union’s Election Observation Mission (EOM) today stressed the importance of ensuring secure and safe polls in Bangladesh, conducted in line with the principles of law and order.

Speaking after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin and four other commissioners at the Election Commission headquarters in Agargaon, EU Chief Observer Ivars Ijabs said the mission also prioritises a participatory election, including the involvement of women and minorities from all segments of Bangladeshi society.

Ijabs said, “The first one is, of course security situation. We really want to see in Bangladesh secure and safe elections according to the principles of law-and-order. And with that, the participatory dimension is important, including women and minorities. This is one of our priorities.”

On the issue of fairness, he added, “We are also dealing with the level playing field of the elections for all candidates in all three hundred constituencies.”

Clarifying the EU’s role, Ijabs said, “Our role here is not to get involved in advising or correcting. Our role is to observe and then to transmit our observations afterwards when the mission is over.”

He reiterated the EU’s hope for a transparent, participatory and credible election on February 12, saying, “We are keeping fingers crossed for Bangladesh.”

Ahead of the twin votes, Ijabs noted that the mission had already deployed 60 long-term observers across the country and would dispatch short-term observers the day after tomorrow to cover every district.

“We in Europe are really looking forward to cooperating with a developed, free, and democratic Bangladesh,” he added.