Ensure free, fair electoral environment

The OECD countries will be happy if next general polls are held in an inclusive, acceptable, and free and fair manner, said Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an intergovernmental organisation with 38 member-countries, founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade.

The heads and deputy heads of the missions of the 14 OECD countries said this at a meeting yesterday with the CEC and other commissioners at EC office.

"They usually emphasise democratic values … The people of the country would also be happy if the elections are held in a free and fair manner," the polls chief told reporters after the meeting.

He added that delegates of the OECD countries wanted to know about the laws and the EC's preparation on the upcoming parliamentary elections.

After the meeting, Switzerland Ambassador to Dhaka Nathalie Chuard read out a statement on behalf of the OECD, saying the countries welcome the EC's commitment to a free, fair and credible national election.

They also welcome the EC's openness to domestic and international observations regarding the polls.

"To uphold and ensure citizens' voting rights, [you must] make the country's democracy more robust and effective, ensure an electoral environment that is participatory and free from violence and intimidation, and support the media and civil society to play critical roles … ," Nathalie said.

"As longstanding, committed friends and partners of Bangladesh, our countries stand ready to consider any requests for support from the BEC [Bangladesh Election Commission] to promote democratic practices and realise citizens' aspirations," she added.

Nathalie then left the venue without further comments.

Asked, the CEC said if the commission needs any kind of assistance, it would inform the OECD following a discussion amongst themselves. There was, however, no such assistance currently needed.

He added the EC will not raise any objections to foreign observers' presence during the polls. "They [the OECD] should also talk to the foreign ministry in this regard."

Awal added, "The OECD countries are aware that some parties are still saying they will not participate in the election. They [OECD] also believe that we will be able to establish a consensus among all parties." 

EC officials said British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Robert Chatterton Dickson, US Ambassador in Dhaka Peter D Haas, Canadian High Commissioner Lilly Nicholls, Denmark Ambassador Winnie Estrup Petersen, European Union Ambassador Charles Whiteley, French Chargé d'Affaires Guillaume Audren de Kerdrel, German Ambassador Achim Tröster, Italian Ambassador Enrico Nunziata, Netherlands Ambassador Anne van Leeuwen, Norwegian Ambassador Espen Rikter-Svendsen, Spanish Ambassador Francisco de Asis Benitez Salas, Turkish Ambassador Mustafa Osman Turan and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Japanese embassy Hiroyuki Yamaya joined the meeting.