Unb, Dhaka
Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma and US Ambassador in Dhaka James Moriarty have welcomed the lifting of the state of emergency.
In a statement in UK yesterday, Sharma said parliamentary elections are extremely important for Bangladesh, offering an opportunity for the resumption of normal democratic life in the country and re-constitution of the nation’s parliament.
He said the Commonwealth observer group for Bangladesh parliamentary elections will be led by former Mauritius President Cassam Uteem.
A team of ten Common-wealth observers will be in Bangladesh from December 22 to January 4. It will be supported by a staff team from the Commonwealth Secretariat led by head of democracy Mark Stevens.
“The Commonwealth observer group will determine in its own judgement whether the election is conducted according to the standards to which Bangladesh has committed itself, in adhering to national election-related legislation and relevant regional, Commonwealth and other international commitments,” Sharma added.
James Moriarty yesterday welcomed the lifting of the state of emergency with a hope that it will set the stage for free, fair and credible parliamentary elections and bring Bangladesh successfully back on democratic path.
He made the remarks while taking to reporters after a meeting with Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at the foreign ministry.
Moriarty also praised the election manifestos of Awami League and BNP, saying that both the manifestos have a lot of very good things and “ultimately this is up to the Bangladeshi people to decide.”
Asked about any change in the new US government’s foreign policy towards Bangladesh, the envoy said he had been in Washington and heard only continuity and he had heard nothing that indicates there will be any major change in US towards Bangladesh.
“But of course we look forward working in the future with the democratically elected government and everybody is eager to see that happen,” he said.
During the meeting, Moriarty also discussed the Kosovo issue and urged Bangladesh to recognise Kosovo.
Courtesy: thedailystar.net
