The European Union has urged all parties in Bangladesh to refrain from violence and engage in a “genuine dialogue” putting Bangladesh’s interest above everything else.
Through dialogue it urged them to agree on “a mutually acceptable way forward to strengthen democratic accountability and to hold transparent, inclusive and credible elections”.
High Representative Catherine Ashton issued the statement on Thursday from Brussels, four days after the 10th parliamentary elections.
She also took note of the preliminary results and reports of low turnout in the elections.
The elections were held amid its boycott by the BNP-led Opposition, resulting in more than half the seats returning winners without any contest.
The EU refused to send a monitoring mission sensing the major political parties were unable to ensure a “transparent, inclusive and credible” election.
The head of the EU delegation in Dhaka ambassador William Hanna had told bdnews24.com in an interview earlier that by ‘inclusive’ the EU meant the people would be able to freely make their choice and ‘credible’ suggested an acceptable and sustainable election.
At least 21 people were killed on the day of polling in violence unleashed by the Opposition that had vowed to resist exercise.
The West and many other nations have expressed their disappointment over the elections as most people were unable to vote.
The UK has urged parties to work for reconciliation to uphold people’s interests.
Germany had called for overcoming differences to work together for “inclusive, peaceful and credible democratic elections”.
France has urged parties to resume dialogue and show “calm and restraint” to preserve the country’s democratic institutions.
But the US was open in calling for fresh elections “as soon as possible”.
Australia also called for a “new, fully contested and transparent election as soon as possible”.
China on Thursday called for political stability in Bangladesh through talks and negotiations, while India has said the polls were a ‘constitutional necessity’.
The EU High Representative in the statement has strongly condemned the acts of violence particularly against the most vulnerable populations, including women and children, as well as religious and ethnic minorities.
Ashton regretted the loss of lives and extended her condolences to the families of the victims.
She said as part of their bilateral relations, they had been consistent in engaging with Bangladesh “to support the consolidation of democracy”.
In this context, she said the EU had repeatedly called on all parties to create favourable conditions for transparent, inclusive and credible elections.
But she regretted the fact that such conditions did not materialise and that “the people of Bangladesh were not given an opportunity to express fully their democratic choice”.
The BNP boycotted the elections as its demand for a non-party caretaker government to oversee the polls had not been met.
A multi-party government with Awami League President Sheikh Hasina as Prime Minister oversaw the violence-marred elections that saw about 40 percent voters casting their votes.
The EU head of delegation Hanna had earlier told bdnews24.com that it did not take sides with any party. “We don’t want our pulling out (observation mission) to be seen as supporting one party or monitoring to be seen as supporting the other side. That’s not the point.
“We want to support the democratic rights of the people to be able to go out and vote to choose next government,” she said before the polls, describing it as EU’s “long commitment to Bangladesh”.
A development partner, EU is the largest market for Bangladesh’s products, mostly ready-made clothes.
Bangladesh enjoys duty-free privileges in its market under its all but arms scheme.
Source: Bd news24