Foreign observers said that the 12th national election was free, fair and peaceful and the voters cast their votes without fear amid the major oppositions boycotted the polls.
Some foreign observers, however, urged the Election Commission (EC) to take drastic action against those involved in violence.
They made the comments at a press briefing held on Monday at the National Press Club in the capital. Independent observers from the US, UK, Japan, Iraq, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Maldives were present.
They also made almost the same remarks individually in instant reactions on Sunday evening just after voting.
The foreign observers, mainly political analysts, former congressmen and journalists, visited at least 30 polling stations in Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj during the voting time on Sunday.
“Considering the overall situation, all the observers present here agree that the 12th national election of Bangladesh was held peacefully and with the participation of the common people. It was free, fair and very safe,” observer from the US Terry L Easley said.
He further said, “We have heard of some isolated incidents like clashes among the supporters of the government's candidates, independent candidates, and other parties which are unexpected. But if we review the overall election situation, those incidents are very insignificant.”
On behalf of the observers, American Global Strategies (AGS) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alexander Barton Gray said, “Considering the overall situation, all the observers present here agree that the 12th parliamentary election of Bangladesh was held peacefully and with the participation of the common people.”
Replying to a question, Kolkata Press Club President Snehasis Sur said, “It is up to the people, media and political parties to assess the credibility of yesterday's (Sunday) 12th parliamentary election.”
The observers said that upon their arrival in Bangladesh on January 5, they learnt that some opposition activists torched a train in Dhaka, vandalised polling stations, and set fire to private and public vehicles.
“We strongly condemn this type of activity to jeopardise the election process. We ask the Bangladesh Election Commission to take strong steps against those involved in the violence,” Sri Lanka Muslim Congress MP Syed Ali Zahir said.
“We have seen people vote in long queues. The presence of women and new voters caught our attention,” he added.
Among others, Javier Piedra from the USA, also former acting assistant administrator for South Asia (USAID) and special correspondent of Asia Times, Emmanuel Finndoro-Obasi, chairman of Conservative Commonwealth Association & director of Africa House London, from UK, Richard Semitego, director, Africa House London, UK, Jun Shindo, president of International Development Cooperation Organisation (IDCO), Japan, Amjad Musthafa, chairman, Association of Democracy & Electoral Link (ADEL), also former vice president of the Election Commission of Maldives, Ibrahim Aaidh Mohamed, vice chairman, Association of Democracy & Electoral Link (ADEL), from Maldives, Samim Miya Ansari, president of Muslim Commission, Nepal, Mohamadin Ali, member of Muslim Commission, Nepal, Jurapas Pitaksethakarn, international human rights observer, from Thailand, Talar Mahmood Kareem, Humanitarian Worker Alliance for Humanity, from Iraq were present.
Earlier, Jim Bates, former US congressman and an election observer, said, “I found (it to be a) very peaceful, free and fair election.”
“I’d like to say it’s a free and fair election already,” he said at a separate media briefing on Sunday evening.
“The thing they keep talking about is low turnout: that’s a misnomer. In some countries, voting goes on till 5/6 pm or even months,” Bates said. He said Bangladesh has the shortest voting time in the world.
“So when they say ‘low turnout,’ that’s something to manoeuvre the press,” Bates said.
Chandra Arya , Member of Parliament, Canada and Victor Oh, Senator, Canada also briefed the media separately.
The independent election observers from Canada said, “Today the citizens of Bangladesh have exercised their fundamental and valuable right to vote and chose their representatives. Today, in the true spirit of democracy, the people of Bangladesh have determined who get their mandate to take the country forward for the next 5 years.”
Chandra Arya said they will now wait to see the newly elected representatives of the people who will shoulder the responsibility of governing the country and deliver the commitments made during the course of the election campaign.
“We noted that even with the call for boycott, a record number of female candidates and a transgender candidate among the 28 political parties and over 1900 candidates including independents contesting the elections,” he said.
Scottish MP Martyn Day in his brief remarks said the election was fairly smooth, but voter turnout was relatively low.
Chief Electoral Officer of Palestine Hisham Kuhali on Sunday said Bangladeshis should be proud of electoral procedures that are in place and expressed satisfaction over the smooth completion of the vote casting.
“We noticed quiet and peaceful election. We have not noticed any sign of violence,” he told reporters at a media briefing at a Dhaka hotel.
Kuhali said the procedures of casting votes were very simple and straightforward.
“This is very good by international standards,” he said, referring to the time it took to cast a vote.
The international observer said people are well informed and well trained who are helping voters to cast their votes.
Asked about the voters’ turnout, he said, “We are here to judge the voting procedures. You should be proud of your process.”
Member of Arab Parliament Abdihakim Moalliam described the election as “smooth”, conducted in a very efficient way.
He appreciated the democratic exercise in Bangladesh, noting that it was a shining example of peace and unity.
