US also won’t send election observers
Expressing “disappointment” over the fact that parliamentary election is going to be held in Bangladesh amid opposition boycott, the United States too decided not to send poll observers until the environment becomes “more conducive”.
The US decision came close on the heels of European Union and Commonwealth refusal to send election observers on the identical grounds.
General elections are scheduled in Bangladesh for January 5, but the government has deployed thousands of troops to contain deadly violence ahead of the vote, which the opposition and a key ruling party ally are set to boycott, says an AFP report on the US decision and suggestions for a negotiated solution to the crisis over the polls.
“The United States believes Bangladesh has an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to democracy by organizing free and fair elections that are credible in the eyes of the Bangladeshi people,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement issued Sunday.
“The United States notes with disappointment, however, that the major political parties have not yet reached consensus on a way to achieve such elections.”
More than half of the parliamentary seats are namely uncontested.
“In this context, the United States will not deploy observers for these elections,” Psaki said.
“We remain prepared to reengage our observation efforts at a later time in a more conducive environment.”
Violence over the planned elections has left more than 100 people dead since November.
“The United States encourages all political parties and Bangladeshi citizens to participate peacefully in the political process. Violence is not acceptable because it subverts the democratic process,” Psaki said.
The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its allies have been staging protests since late October to force Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down so that a neutral caretaker government can oversee the election—an arrangement in place in previous votes but rejected by Hasina.
Three rounds of UN-brokered last-minute talks between the government and opposition have failed to resolve the dispute, plunging the nation into its worst political crisis in decades.
- See more at: daily sun | First Page | US also wont send election
observers
Expressing “disappointment” over the fact that parliamentary election is going to be held in Bangladesh amid opposition boycott, the United States too decided not to send poll observers until the environment becomes “more conducive”.
The US decision came close on the heels of European Union and Commonwealth refusal to send election observers on the identical grounds.
General elections are scheduled in Bangladesh for January 5, but the government has deployed thousands of troops to contain deadly violence ahead of the vote, which the opposition and a key ruling party ally are set to boycott, says an AFP report on the US decision and suggestions for a negotiated solution to the crisis over the polls.
“The United States believes Bangladesh has an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to democracy by organizing free and fair elections that are credible in the eyes of the Bangladeshi people,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement issued Sunday.
“The United States notes with disappointment, however, that the major political parties have not yet reached consensus on a way to achieve such elections.”
More than half of the parliamentary seats are namely uncontested.
“In this context, the United States will not deploy observers for these elections,” Psaki said.
“We remain prepared to reengage our observation efforts at a later time in a more conducive environment.”
Violence over the planned elections has left more than 100 people dead since November.
“The United States encourages all political parties and Bangladeshi citizens to participate peacefully in the political process. Violence is not acceptable because it subverts the democratic process,” Psaki said.
The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its allies have been staging protests since late October to force Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down so that a neutral caretaker government can oversee the election—an arrangement in place in previous votes but rejected by Hasina.
Three rounds of UN-brokered last-minute talks between the government and opposition have failed to resolve the dispute, plunging the nation into its worst political crisis in decades.
- See more at: daily sun | First Page | US also wont send election
observers