Visiting head of the Democracy Section of Commonwealth Martin Kasirye said on Wednesday the Commonwealth would take a decision whether it would send polls observers during the ensuing election only after weighing the evolving political developments.
‘It is too early to say whether we will send observers. We are here to see the developments happening on the ground and the Commonwealth secretary general will take a decision in this regard weighing the evolving situation,’ Kasirye told reporters after a meeting with the chief election commissioner, Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, at the EC secretariat in the city.
A three-member delegation led by Kasirye met the CEC to discuss the situation following an invitation from the Election Commission to send Commonwealth observers for the polls slated for January 5 next year.
Kasirye said, ‘We are not a in a position to say what the commonwealth secretary general would decide. It is evolving situation and the secretary general will take the decision in line with the evolving situation.’
Asked whether the commonwealth would deploy its observers in the ensuing polls given the evolved political situation, he replied, ‘It is too early to say. The mission is here to see what is going on on the ground.’
He declined to comment on the deadlocked political situation.
He said it was an official meeting in response to the invitation received by the secretary general regarding sending commonwealth observers to observe the elections.
‘So our mission here is really a part of the process that commonwealth goes through when an invitation is received.’
He said the mission came to Dhaka to discuss the preparations for the polls and the conditions in the country.
‘The team will meet the political parties, civil society and diplomats to discuss the arrangements for election,’ he added.
-With New Age input
