The United Kingdom has urged the Bangladesh authorities for a full, credible and transparent resolution of all complaints related to the conduct of the December 30 general elections.

“While I welcome the participation of all opposition parties in these elections, I am aware of credible accounts of obstacles, including arrests, that constrained or prevented campaigning by opposition parties, and of irregularities in the conduct of elections on polling day that prevented some people from voting,” said British Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific Mark Field.

He came up with the comments in a press statement yesterday following the announcement of the unofficial results for the 11th Parliamentary Elections in Bangladesh.

“I deplore the acts of intimidation and unlawful violence that have taken place during the campaign period, and am deeply concerned by the incidents that led to so many deaths on polling day. My thoughts are with the families and friends of those who have lost loved ones,” the British minister said in the statement.

Terming free, fair, peaceful, and participatory elections essential to any functioning democracy, Minister Field said, “It is vital for the government and all political parties to now work together to address differences and find a way forward in line with the interests of the people of Bangladesh”.

Mentioning that the UK has a broad and important partnership with Bangladesh, and a significant Bangladeshi diaspora in the UK, Mark Field added, “We will continue to support the people of Bangladesh in their aspirations for a more stable, prosperous, and democratic future”.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said BNP has failed to plunge the December 30 national election into controversy even after knocking at the doors of its foreign friends.

“They (BNP) wrote letters to different countries to make the election questionable but their motive has gone in vain,” Quader, also the minister for Road Transport and Bridges, told reporters after visiting construction site of the second Kanchpur Bridge on Dhaka-Chattogram and Dhaka-Sylhet highways in Narayanganj’s Sonargaon upazila.

BNP also completely failed to ensure momentum of their anti-government movement as people did not take to the streets by responding their call, the Awami League leader said.

Replying to a query about BNP’s decision to refrain from participating in the upcoming upazila elections, the minister said no political parity can sustain without taking part in election.

He said the heads of different countries including UK and Switzerland welcomed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina following the formation of government under her leadership for the fourth time.

Claiming that people would not throng the streets responding to the BNP’s call, Quader said BNP is engaged in negative politics and thus it will lose its foreign friends as well as the trust of the countrymen.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda yesterday said army personnel deployed for election duty would take any measures required to maintain law and order.

“If any situation that needs to be controlled arises in front of the army, they will go there on their own and bring the situation under control," he said.

The army personnel have been deployed to restore voters' confidence, Huda said, urging all the political parties to maintain a congenial atmosphere for the December 30 election.  

Read More: Army starts polls duty

He made the comments while visiting a trial voting session on using electronic voting machines (EVM) at Dhaka Residential Model School and College.

Army personnel started discharging election duties yesterday to help ensure a peaceful atmosphere and maintain law and order across the country for the polls.

The CEC urged all the political parties to ensure that the election was held the way it should be. He also asked them to shun violence, remove “misunderstandings” and dedicate themselves only to electioneering.

In this regard, the army's role would be helpful, he pointed out. “I do believe, from now on, anything untoward will be controlled.”

Responding to a query, Huda said Election Commission officials would be in charge of operating the EVMs while skilled army personnel would assist them.

Asked if the BNP would be allowed for a rally at the capital's Suhrawardy Udyan on Thursday, he said he would communicate with the Dhaka Metropolitan Police over the matter.

'NOTHING TO BE DELIGHTED ABOUT'

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday said army did not belong to any party or alliance.

Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, made the statement while addressing an election rally of Lt Gen (retd) Masud Uddin Chowdhury, Jatiya Party candidate for Feni-3 under the AL-led grand alliance, at Ataturk High School ground in Daganbhuiyan upazila.

"The army has taken positions in districts to discharge duties for the sake of a free and fair election. A quarter is much delighted over the army deployment. But they should remember that they [Army] would not work for any particular party. Their role will be neutral,” he said.

Quader urged all not to make the army controversial.

Soldiers stand guard outside a temporary camp set up at the capital's Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium. Photo: Amran Hossain

AL contestant for Feni-2 Nizam Uddin Hazari, district AL President Abdur Rahman and the unit's senior vice-president Akram Hossain Humayun, among others, were present at the rally chaired by Daganbhuiyan  AL president Master Kamal Uddin.

Yesterday, the AL also sought steps from the EC to stop “attacks on its activists across the country during campaigning”.

BNP and Jamaat goons are attacking AL activists, the party's Election Steering Committee member Akteruzzaman told reporters after handing over a letter to EC Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed.

He hoped that the polls environment would improve as members of the armed forces were deployed.

Meanwhile, Islami Andolan Bangladesh lodged a complaint with the EC, saying its activists were facing attack and harassment across the country, said the party's Senior Joint Secretary General ATM Hemayetullah.

Bangladesh Nationalist Front President SM Abul Kalam Azad today said that the national election will not be free and fair under this Election Commission.

"Our supporters, voters, activists are feeling insecure," Azad, who is contesting from Dhaka-17, was speaking to reporters after a meeting at the commission.

Azad is currently a lawmaker of the current parliament and his party BNF is also a component of the Awami League-led ruling 14-party alliance.

"Our constitution says an election will be held under the Election Commission. But, we don't see it. It is heavily influenced by the ruling party," he said.

Speaking after meeting Election Commission Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed, he claimed 55 BNF candidates were attacked by Awami League and Oikyafront men.

"We want to stay in the election till the last day, but it should be held under a neutral Election Commission," he said.