Home ›› 08 May 2023 ›› Governance
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday requested the Commonwealth to send diversified election observers from different member countries for the upcoming general election in Bangladesh.
She made the request while the Commonwealth Secretary General Baroness Patricia Scotland called on the visiting prime minister her at The Claridge's hotel in London.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen briefed the reporters after the call on.
He said that the prime minister raised the issue of election and made the request for diversified election observers from various Commonwealth countries.
In reply, Patricia Scotland said that the Commonwealth is ready to help Bangladesh in holding the election, according to Momen.
She said that In many Commonwealth countries they made the same arrangement where all political parties express their commitment that they will participate in the election, and what they want for making the polls fair.
“If they do not win in the election, they must accept it,” Momen quoted her as saying. She also said that the political parties will pledge that they will not go for violence.
“All political parties will express their commitment for free and fair election,” she said.
Momen said that Bangladesh government also wants that.
“All political parties will make their political commitment,” he added.
The Commonwealth secretary general said that the political parties will make their public commitment where they will say that they will participate in the election, will do everything for ensuring fair and non-violent election.
“They want to help us,” Momen said adding, “We said of course.”
PM Hasina requested them to impart training to the Election Commission officers in the district level like they did in the past. She asked them to hold meetings with the Election Commission as it is now independent.
The prime minister informed the Commonwealth that her government has taken a number of steps to strengthen the Election Commission and ensured voting rights in the country.
Apart from the election, artificial intelligence, climate, mental health and digital connectivity were prominently discussed in the meeting, Momen said.
The prime minister has expressed her desire that Bangladesh wanted to lead artificial intelligence committee of Commonwealth from June next as the country is now leading the Commonwealth’s business to business event, he said.
Momen went on saying that the Commonwealth secretary general has agreed to the matter.
Next polls will be fair
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has once again said that her country’s upcoming general election will be free and fair.
She made it clear after UK Foreign Minister James Cleverly during a meeting with her on Saturday said that Britain wants to see a fair national election in Bangladesh in the coming days.
Cleverly called on Hasina at the Claridge Hotel where the visiting prime minister is staying on her official UK visit.
Hasina urged cooperation from all to make the next polls free and fair, according to Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen who briefed the media after the meeting.
“We want a fair election to be held. My party has always maintained democracy in the country. We have given the country’s democracy a strong footing,” she said.
