Ban Ki-moon sets up high-level panel to assess upcoming polls
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has set up a high-level panel to review the preparations for staging next month's parliamentary elections in Bangladesh, reports BSS.
"The panel is tasked with assessing the preparations and conduct of the elections through visits to Bangladesh before and during the election," according to a statement issued by Ban's spokesperson received in Dhaka Monday.
Parliamentary polls are slated to take place on 29 December, and the country's caretaker Government had asked Ban Ki-moon to set up a high-level panel as part of efforts to ensure the elections are free and fair.
The three-member panel began its first visit to Bangladesh, and expect to return for about a week around the time of the elections, before reporting back to Ban with its key findings and recommendations.
Francesc Vendrell, secretary-general's former personal representative for Afghanistan and European Union (EU) envoy to the same country is heading the panel. The other members are Bhojraj Pokharel, Nepal's Chief Election Commissioner, and Aracelly Santana, the former deputy director of the United Nations Electoral Assistance Division.
"The panel is tasked with assessing the preparations and conduct of the elections through visits to Bangladesh before and during the election," according to a statement issued by Ban's spokesperson received in Dhaka Monday.
Parliamentary polls are slated to take place on 29 December, and the country's caretaker Government had asked Ban Ki-moon to set up a high-level panel as part of efforts to ensure the elections are free and fair.
The three-member panel began its first visit to Bangladesh, and expect to return for about a week around the time of the elections, before reporting back to Ban with its key findings and recommendations.
Francesc Vendrell, secretary-general's former personal representative for Afghanistan and European Union (EU) envoy to the same country is heading the panel. The other members are Bhojraj Pokharel, Nepal's Chief Election Commissioner, and Aracelly Santana, the former deputy director of the United Nations Electoral Assistance Division.