Dhaka, Dec 2 (Just News): Centrist Democrat International (IDC-CDI) urged the European Union (EU) to interfere forthcoming national polls in Bangladesh to give it a free and fair manner.
At a statement, Belgium based political party termed Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as its sister party and criticized many activities of civil and police administration ahead of elections.
It alleged government gives imprisonment to BNP chief Begum Khaleda Zia to keep away her from next polls. It wants to meet Khaleda Zia calling on the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs to provide necessary diplomatic assistance for a IDC-CDI delegation to visit Khaleda Zia in prison before the elections.
In addition to imprisoning the opposition, the ruling party has also passed new legislation, the Digital Security Act, that can see anyone criticizing the government prosecuted and jailed. The government now wants social media to be monitored by the Rapid Action Batallion (RAB) to operate on the fringes of the law during the period leading to elections, it added.
The statement also said, in light of these recent developments which constitute serious violation of the rule of law and human rights and serious hindrance to creating a congenial environment for opposition political parties to participate, the IDC-CDI calls on the European Union to immediately address the matter with great urgency, calls on the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs to make a immediate statement on the election in Bangladesh calling for human rights violations and violence by the state against opposition political party activists to stop with immediate effect following the recent killing of a prospective opposition candidate and given that a high number of opposition activists continue to be arrested following the election schedule announcement, calls on the Bangladesh government to immediately suspend the Digital Security Act and create conditions for credible, transparent and inclusive elections
The IDC-CDI is deeply concerned and disappointed that the Bangladesh government has not invited international observers with adequate time and calls on the EU to act and condemn this approach given the financial support the EU provides on democratic governance to the country and look at immediate possible sanctions against those who violate rights.
Finally, the IDC-CDI condemns the highly partisan organization of the elections in Bangladesh and asks the EU High Representative to convey urgently to the government of Bangladesh to refrain from partisan intervention and ensure free and fair democratic elections, reads the statement.
(Justnews/ys/1200hr)
