Heads of Mission of the European Union (EU) and the heads of Mission of Norway and Switzerland in Dhaka urged on Monday all the political parties to meet their democratic responsibilities and refrain from election violence, reports UNB.
They said participatory elections constitute an important step in the ongoing process of national development for all Bangladeshi citizens and urged law enforcement agencies to strictly adhere to the rule of law.
The diplomats stationed in Dhaka made the call as the formal campaigning period for the upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for December 30, begins on Monday.
They also called upon the government, the Election Commission and all stakeholders to ensure a genuine, credible, inclusive and transparent electoral process in Bangladesh, according to a local joint statement on parliamentary elections.
The heads of Mission urged all stakeholders to uphold and protect the citizens' rights to universal suffrage, freedom of expression and right to peaceful assembly and welcome the commitments made by the Bangladesh Election Commission and the government of Bangladesh in this respect.
Media and civil society scrutiny is particularly important in ensuring transparency throughout the process, they said. Signatories to the local statement are Ambassador, Delegation of the European Union Rensje Teerink, British High Commissioner Alison Blake, Spanish Ambassador D. Alvaro de Salas Gimenez de Azcarate, Swedish Ambassador Charlotta Schlyter, Ambassador of France Marie-Annick Bourdin, German Ambassador Peter Fahrenholtz, Dutch Ambassador Harry Verweij, Danish Ambassador Winnie Estrup Petersen, Norwegian Ambassador Sidsel Bleken and Swiss Ambassador Rene Holenstein.
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