Commonwealth disappointed over elections

The Commonwealth has also joined the UK and the US in expressing its “disappointment” over the parliamentary polls.

It has urged Bangladesh to find a way for a “more inclusive and peaceful political process”.

Its Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma in statement on Monday said the limited levels of participation and the low voter turnout were “disappointing”.

The elections did not take place in more than half of the seats that earlier returned winners uncontested as major opposition BNP did not contest the balloting.

“Therefore, it is critical that Bangladesh moves quickly to find a path forward through dialogue to a more inclusive and peaceful political process in which the will of the people can be fully expressed,” Sharma said.

The Commonwealth did not send monitors for the polls, but the Secretary General said they had been closely following the situation in Bangladesh.

The decision to not send observers came following an assessment that conditions were not “compatible with Commonwealth election observation guidelines”, particularly the need for inclusive and representative elections.

“The acts of violence are deeply troubling and indeed are unacceptable in response to any political situation,” read the statement.

The Secretary General said in the Commonwealth Charter, it is a shared responsibility of governments, political parties and civil society to uphold and promote democratic culture, including the “inalienable right of individuals to participate in free and fair elections”.

He said the Commonwealth remains “ready and willing to assist Bangladesh in advancing democratic cultures and processes, freedom of expression, the rule of law and our other shared core values, just as we offer this support to all our member countries.”

Earlier the UK, the US and Canada expressed their disappointment over the elections.

The US encouraged the government and opposition parties to engage in “immediate dialogue” to find a way “to hold as soon as possible elections” that are “free, fair, peaceful, and credible, reflecting the will of the Bangladeshi people”.