UK wants to see ‘proper democracy’ in BD: Duncan

Terming the January 5 election ‘unusual but legitimate’, visiting British State Minister for International Development Alan Duncan Wednesday said his country wants to see ‘proper democracy’ in Bangladesh.
 “…we want to see proper democracy – free from violence, focusing on the needs of the people,” he said urging all to play their due role to put an end breaking the five-year cycle of electoral violence and instability forgetting the politics of ‘recrimination’.
Duncan was speaking at a press conference at the British High Commission’s Staff Amenities Centre in the city. British High Commissioner in Dhaka Robert Gibson was also present, according to a news agency.
The British minister said they want to see such political activity in Bangladesh which he thinks is free from violence that focuses on serving the needs of people.
On the recent multi-phased upazila elections, Duncan said they are concerned by reports of ‘interference’ and ‘irregularities’ in the elections. “The UK has consistently called on all parties to refrain from violence and to refrain from intimidation and confrontation.”
He also said he was particularly disturbed by reports that minorities were attacked before and after the January 5 election and by the reports of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.
When his confirmation was sought whether he expressed his surprise over Tarique Rahman’s claim that Ziaur Rahman was the first president of Bangladesh, Duncan said, “It’s not for me anyway to reinterpret Bangladesh history. You’re very clever people and you know very well about the history of Bangladesh.”