The European Union (EU) will not send any observer for the 11th parliamentary election in Bangladesh slated for Dec 30 for what its envoy in Dhaka says “due to lack of preparation”.
“European Union member states take great interest in the Bangladesh general election. However, sending a polls observation mission requires massive preparation which takes at least six months, Ambassador Rensje Teerink told the media after meeting the chief election commissioner on Wednesday (Nov 28),
“Therefore, we are not being able to positively respond to Bangladesh’s call to send observers,” she said before adding that the decision came from the EU headquarters.
However, two ‘experts’ are now in Dhaka, who will be here for 40 days to observe the entire electoral process, said Teerink.
On Tuesday (Nov 27), a statement from the co-chairs of the European Parliament's Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group said they will not observe the upcoming polls and will neither make any comment on it after results are announced."
It further clarified their position on observing the Bangladesh polls saying, no European Parliament member has been mandated to observe or comment on the upcoming electoral process.
"Any statements made by any European Parliament members do not represent the European Parliament or the European Union's view in any way," it added
The statement issued by MEPs David McAllister (EPP, DE) and Linda McAvan (S&D, UK), hoped that the elections will be peaceful, transparent and participatory.
EU’s Bangladesh delegation chief Teerink termed their comment as their own while the European Union’s statement is published in its website, she said.
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