Canada and France on Tuesday urged the major political parties in Bangladesh to sit and ‘negotiate a framework’ to hold future elections in a ‘non-violent’ and inclusive way through a change in ‘political culture’.
Canadian High Commissioner Heather Cruden and France Ambassador Michel Trinquier came up with the observation at a joint press conference at the Alliance Francaise de Dhaka that was arranged to brief the media on Bangladesh Francophonie Week-2014.
“What I’ve been saying is that it seems to me that there needs to be a change in political culture,” Cruden said while responding to a question on political issues.
She said the major parties need to sit down and start negotiating a framework not just for the next election but also for the next five or 10 elections that will allow elections to take place in a non-violent way.
Cruden laid emphasis on such a framework which will allow people to express their will and allow political parties to accept the decision, participate in parliament and all other democratic institutions.
Echoing Cruden’s observation, Trinquier said the country is peaceful for the time being, but it needs to last for a long time.
“What we hope is that the opposition and the government will find a common solution to hold free, fair and credible elections,” the envoy said expressing his displeasure over ‘horrible period’ that Bangladesh went through.
Trinquier said there should be a focus on a smooth process and every five years the country should have an election through a smooth process.
He hoped that the political parties will find a ‘fruitful solution’ to hold future elections smoothly and peacefully and mentioned that the elections that took place on January 5 were not participatory and credible.
On future elections, Cruden said, “I think it’s important to recognise what Bangladeshis themselves want.”
Referring to statements after the January 5 polls, she said they expressed concern about the number of uncontested seats and Bangladeshis were not able to express their will through voting.
Referring to three opinion polls published after the January 5 elections, Cruden said, “…there’ve been three polls since the elections…those indicated that about 70 percent people would like to see a free, fair and participatory elections.”
Egyptian Ambassador in Dhaka Mahomud Ezzat, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Morocco, Said Kasmi, Diplomatic Attaché, Embassy of Qatar, Abdulla Khalifa AA Al-Fadala, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Switzerland, Caroline Trautweiler and Viet Nam Ambassador Nguyen Quang Thuc were also present.
Source: UNB Connect
