The European Union has decided not to monitor the Jan 5 elections as its High Representative was of the view that main political parties have failed to create the necessary conditions for “transparent, inclusive and credible elections”.
Published : 20 Dec 2013, 05:57 PM
High Representative Catherine Ashton’s spokesperson, however, said the EU would monitor the elections “should the political conditions allow for the holding of transparent, inclusive and credible elections”.
She also urged all to refrain from violence so that people can express their democratic choice.
“The High Representative regrets that the main political forces in Bangladesh have been unable to create the necessary conditions for transparent, inclusive and credible elections, despite many efforts, including the recent UN initiative.
“The High Representative urges all sides to refrain from violence and encourages all political leaders to respect the right of the people of Bangladesh to express their democratic choice.
“The High Representative has decided to halt for now the preparations for the deployment of an Election Observation Mission,” read the statement.
Ashton is the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission.
Bangladesh has been witnessing violent protests over the Jan 5 elections. The Opposition led by the BNP has boycotted the polls expressing no confidence in the dispensation that will oversee the elections.
BNP has been demanding a non-party caretaker regime even as the provision has been scrapped by a constitutional amendment. The ruling Awami League installed multi-party cabinet for elections oversight.
Scores of people mostly innocent were killed in arson and bomb blasts during violence. Many opposition senior politicians have also been arrested.
The EU High Representative Catherine Ashton earlier on Nov 30, after announcement of the elections roadmap amid widespread violence, in a statement said sending polls observers would depend on “political and security situation”.
She also called for ending violence and finding a political solution through dialogue to allow “a peaceful, inclusive, transparent and credible” election to take place.
“This can only happen if all sides can agree to move ahead, in the interests of the country's future,” she had said.
But the United Nations-mediated talks between the two sides so far failed to resolve the standoff.
With the deadline of nominations process to contest elections expired, more than half the seats in the 10th parliament remained uncontested.
The EU team monitored the last elections held on Dec 29 in 2008 by sending 150 observers from 25 member states in addition to observers from Norway and Switzerland.
The elections were originally scheduled to take place on Jan 22, 2007 under the administration of a non-partisan caretaker government.
But Awami League led alliance decided to boycott the elections on the grounds that the caretaker government, headed by President Iajuddin Ahmed, was favouring its main opponent, BNP.
Eleven days before the polls, on Jan 11 the EU and other international observer missions judged that conditions not conducive for credible elections and suspended their activities.
The same day President Ahmed, under pressure from the army, cancelled the elections, resigned as Chief Advisor of the caretaker government, and declared a State of Emergency.
A new caretaker government sworn in for an unspecified period of time and finally they oversight the ninth parliamentary elections that brought the ruling Awami League to power with a landslide victory.