Jan 5 poll was constitutional requirement: India
Expressing disappointment over Sunday’s violence-marred and low-turnout 10th parliamentary election, the United States, Canada, UK and the Commonwealth yesterday called for immediate dialogues between major political parties to hold a ‘fresh credible election’.
The countries and the Commonwealth, in separate statements, expressed their dismay and stressed the need for immediate consensus among the parties for holding a ‘truly participatory’ election as the just-concluded polls did not reflect the ‘will of the Bangladeshis’ and that more than half of the 300 seats in parliament were not contested. Next-door neighbour India, however, described the January 5 election as a constitutional requirement, saying that democratic processes must take their own course.
The United States said that the polls apparently did not reflect the will of the people of Bangladesh. Washington also urged the government and opposition parties to engage in immediate talks to find a way to hold free, fair and credible elections as soon as possible.
“The United States is disappointed by the recent parliamentary elections in Bangladesh. With more than half of the seats uncontested and most of the remainder offering only token opposition, the results of the just-concluded elections do not appear to credibly express the will of the Bangladeshi people,” Marie Harf, deputy spokesperson of the US State Department, said in a press statement.
“While it remains to be seen what form the new government will take, United States commitment to supporting the people of Bangladesh remains undiminished. To that end, we encourage the Government of Bangladesh and opposition parties to engage in immediate dialogue to find a way to hold as soon as possible elections that are free, fair, peaceful, and credible, reflecting the will of the Bangladeshi people,” she said.
The official also said, “We condemn in the strongest terms the violence from all quarters that continues to mark the prevailing political impasse. Violence is not an acceptable element of the political process; we call on all to stop committing further violence. Bangladesh’s political leadership – and those who aspire to lead – must do everything in their power to ensure law and order and refrain from supporting and fomenting violence, especially against minority communities, inflammatory rhetoric, and intimidation.”
“In the coming days, as Bangladesh seeks a way forward that is in keeping with its strong democratic traditions, we call upon the Government of Bangladesh to provide political space to all citizens to freely express their political views. We also call strongly on the opposition to use such space peacefully and responsibly, and for all sides to eschew violence, which is not part of democratic practice and must stop immediately,” she said.
Canadian foreign minister John Baird in a statement said: “Canada welcomes the major parties’ willingness to consider holding a new national election and urges all parties to reach an agreement soon that would allow the next election to be truly participatory, with results that all Bangladeshis will see as credible.”
“Canada joins the United States and the European Union in expressing regrets that the major political parties in Bangladesh were unable to negotiate a solution that would have enabled a fully participatory election on January 5, 2014. The availability of individual choice is fundamental to a vibrant democracy,” said the minister. “Canada notes with dismay the violence and controversy that marred the electoral period. Hundreds of Bangladeshi citizens were killed in political violence in 2013. We condemn this violence in the strongest terms, particularly the senseless attacks on the most vulnerable citizens — children, women, and religious and ethnic minorities,” Baird said.
In a statement, British senior foreign office minister Baroness Warsi said, “All Bangladesh’s political parties share a clear and unequivocal responsibility to work together to strengthen democratic accountability as an urgent priority and to build the willingness and capacity to hold future participatory elections without the fear of intimidation or reprisals,”
“We note the announcement of the results of the 10th Parliamentary Election in Bangladesh; an election called in accordance with Bangladesh’s Constitution,” she said.
“Like others in the international community, the UK believes that the true mark of a mature, functioning democracy is peaceful, credible elections that express the genuine will of the voters. It is therefore disappointing that voters in more than half the constituencies did not have the opportunity to express their will at the ballot box and that turnout in most other constituencies was low,” she added. The British minister added: “We deplore the acts of intimidation and unlawful violence from all parties that have taken place in recent weeks and the arson attacks on public buildings, including schools and colleges, which have been reported over the weekend.”
Meanwhile, the Commonwealth has termed limited participation and low voter turnout as disappointing and called for a dialogue to have a more inclusive process reflecting the will of the people.
“The commonwealth has been following closely the situation in Bangladesh relating to the parliamentary elections held on 5 January 2014. The limited levels of participation and the low voter turnout are disappointing. The acts of violence are deeply troubling and indeed are unacceptable in response to any political situation,” Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma said in a statement.
“In the Commonwealth Charter, it is a shared responsibility of governments, political parties and civil society to uphold and promote democratic culture, including the inalienable right of individuals to participate in free and fair elections,” he said. “Therefore, it is critical that Bangladesh moves quickly to find a path forward through dialogue to a more inclusive and peaceful political process in which the will of the people can be fully expressed,” he added.
On the other hand, India described the 10th parliamentary election, boycotted by many parties, including the BNP, as a constitutional requirement and internal process of Bangladesh. “Elections in Bangladesh on 5th January were a constitutional requirement. They are a part of the internal and constitutional process of Bangladesh,” Syed Akbaruddin, the spokesperson of the Indian ministry of external affairs, told the media yesterday while responding to queries on elections in Bangladesh.
“It is for the people of Bangladesh to decide their own future and choose their representatives in a manner that responds to their aspirations,” he said.
“Violence cannot and should not determine the way forward. The democratic processes must be allowed to take their own course in Bangladesh,” he added.
Courtesy of The Independent
