Russia has endorsed Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections and thrown its weight behind the Awami League that is set to form government at a time when Sheikh Hasina is desperately looking for international support.
The Russian foreign ministry in a statement regretted that key opposition parties boycotted the Jan 5 elections.
The statement comes in stark contrast to the position of the United States over the elections.
“Russia confirms that it is ready to continue constructive partnership with a government, which will be formed soon.
“We hope that the authorities and the opposition will not go beyond the Constitution in order to ensure stability and strengthen democratic institutions in the country,” the ministry was quoted as saying by official news agency PNA/Itar-Tass.
As main opposition BNP boycotted the elections, more than half of the seats returned winners uncontested resulting in low turnout in the violence-marred elections.
International communities particularly the West have criticised the elections. The US has been open in calling for a fresh election “as soon as possible”.
Only India has said it was a constitutional necessity. Now Russia stood beside Sheikh Hasina who oversaw the elections as head of the multi-party small cabinet.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia demanded a non-party caretaker government.
The erstwhile Soviet Union actively supported Bangladesh’s independence struggle led by the Awami League in 1971 and stood against the Americans who had sided with Pakistan.
Hasina visited Moscow in January last year, the first by a Bangladeshi head of government since Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s visit to the Soviet Union in April 1972 immediately after Bangladesh became independent.
Source: Bd news24