Opposition should be ready to accept voters' verdict: UN

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FE Report
The country's leadership should develop the culture of accepting the voters' verdict, regardless of who wins the parliamentary polls, the head of the United Nations high-level panel on Bangladesh elections said Saturday.
"After the general elections, losers should accept the verdict of voters," Francesc Vendrell, head of UN secretary general's high-level panel on Bangladesh parliamentary elections 2008, told reporters in the city.
Concluding a three-day assessment mission ahead of the polls, Mr Vendrell said the leaders from across the political spectrum should also come out of what he called "winner takes everything" attitude as Bangladesh goes to elections in late December.
Bangladesh's still-immature democracy, traditionally dominated by Awami League and BNP, has a history of rejecting the outcome of parliamentary elections by the losing parties, although the country has been having parliamentary elections since 1991. Observers say the confrontational politics is the major stumbling bloc to sustaining and flourishing of democracy in Bangladesh .
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon dispatched a three-member delegation to take stock of the pre-polls situation and make recommendations to the UN chief just before the general elections, scheduled for December 29.
The delegation, after submitting an assessment report to the UN chief, will again visit Bangladesh on December 27.
The panel head said that they had talks with key public figures such as the chief adviser and the Army chief, diplomats and the civil society during their stay in Bangladesh .
"We're leaving with a perception that things are positive. And the steps so far taken and to be taken will ensure a level-playing field," Mr Vendrell told a press briefing.
But he made it clear that the UN would not formally observe the polls, instead it would be "listening to what other observers say."
He said the reports of international observers, notably from the European Union and the National Democratic Institute, and the local observers' would be evaluated by his team.
"Our role is precisely to hear of the verdicts. We expect the losers to accept the verdict of voters after the polls," he added.
He noted that political parties should follow the code of conduct framed by the Election Commission, should not resort to violent activities, while the government should lift the emergency before holding of the general election by the non-party caretaker government.
Asked if there will be a credible election, the UN panel head said "chances are much higher" as there is no doubt about the cooperation from all political parties. " Bangladesh will have a good election."
Referring to his talks with the interim administration's top figures on the withdrawal of the state of emergency, Mr Vendrell said: "We've been told that the state of emergency will be lifted. It is unlikely to be lifted before December 11. But it is likely to be lifted before December 29."
Responding to a question, the UN delegation head said diplomats should not act as the key drivers in domestic politics.