Former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pankaj Saran on Monday said it is the people of Bangladesh and the country's institutions who can decide how the election should be held, noting that no one has the right to issue any judgment on how the election should be held.
"Elections are important for every country. Every country has its own method and system. You have everything. It is a decision to be taken by the people, otherwise what is the meaning or concept of independence and sovereign nation," he said while responding to a question at a function in Dhaka, reports UNB.
The former Indian diplomat said it is for the people to decide who they should elect and it is for the institutions to decide how the election will be held. "We wish you all the best in this endeavor," he said.
The daily Bhorer Kagoj hosted the Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Memorial Lecture-2023 on "Bangladesh-India relations: Role Model of Relations" at a hotel in Dhaka.
Pankaj said Indian wishes that the election process goes as per the wish of the people, and it goes peacefully so that it does not lead to instability. He said India is also a big democratic country, but it is not exporting democracy to other countries.
He said what's important is that the people of Bangladesh realize the best way forward when it comes to elections.
"You have your institutions. Do the best that you can. Believe in yourself and accept whatever results come out of elections. I do not think it is for any country in the world, including India, to talk about how elections should be conducted either in Bangladesh or any other country," he said.
Former Bangladesh Ambassador in New Delhi Tariq Karim also spoke at the event moderated by Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta.
Highlighting the milestones that the two countries achieved together over the last 15 years, Pankaj Saran said there will always be "unfinished agenda" in any relation including that between Bangladesh and India.
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