The foreign diplomats should refrain from making public comments about domestic affairs like election, say experts.
They should speak their minds and share their thoughts in confidence to make it effective.
Former Bangladesh Ambassador to China Munshi Faiz Ahmed said, “Yes, they are our friends and they are welcome to speak their minds, but if they do it publicly, it gives a wrong signal to the actors for whom the messages are directed at.”
This is not at all desirable and they should understand it by applying their diplomatic wisdom, he said.
The veteran diplomat is of the view that making public statement creates confusion among the people and they may perceive it as dictates from the powerful countries.
Munshi Faiz also blamed the domestic system and people for entertaining the foreign diplomats.
“Partially we are to blame too as we allow them to speak publicly,” he said.
Subscribing the same view, former foreign secretary Md Touhid Hossain, “They can speak in public due to our weak system.”
Citing example, he said they do not talk about election system in India, but they make public comment freely about our core domestic affairs including election.
He said even if they express their opinion it maybe viewed as criticism.
“We must have political maturity and reach a bipartisan consensus at least on election issue so that no foreign power can say anything about it,” said Hossain.
“It’s our country and it will be governed by us; If we have good governance, people will be benefitted and vice versa,” he added.
In that context, the opinions and desires of the foreign diplomats are more or less marginal, he said.
In the last couple of days, foreign diplomats from various countries including the United States, United Nations, and Canada made several public statements.
On Dec 27, US Ambassador Earl Robert Miller, after meeting with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda, expressed his concern about pre-polls violence.
Canadian High Commissioner Benoit Préfontaine on Dec 23 in a public statement said, “The pre-election campaign should be carried out in a calm and responsible manner by all concerned. This includes protection of the political and electoral rights of minority and other vulnerable groups and ensuring free space for civil society.”
The 11th Parliamentary Election will be held on Dec 30 when 104 million voters can cast their franchise.
A total of 1,861 candidates are vying for 300 parliamentary seats and out of them 128 are independent.
Leaders from 39 registered political parties are taking part in the election but the two biggest parties, Awami League and BNP, are contesting in most of the seats.
Among the small parties, only Islami Andolan Bangladesh is contesting in 292 seats out of 300.