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Amid pressure from the West to hold impartial and representative elections, Bangladesh has extended an open invitation to foreign envoys to be part of an international team of observers for its general elections scheduled for January 7 next year.
At a press interaction on Saturday, Momen said he briefed the Delhi-based diplomats about Dhaka’s stand on various geo-political and contemporary issues and the political dynamics of Bangladesh under the leadership of PM Sheikh Hasina.“I briefed them since there might be misconceptions as some opposition parties have been engaging in disruptive activities in recent times … and invited them as observers for the polls,” he said.
Memon, who was here for foreign office consultations (FOC) with his Indian counterpart Vinay Kwatra, said, “They (foreign mission heads) took note of our points and have agreed to send observers to the elections. We welcome foreign observers to the elections, we gave them guidelines and we have assured them of our cooperation,” he added.
Asked by TOI about participation of opposition parties in the general elections, Momen said, “Right now we are going through the schedule of submission and scrutiny of nomination papers. Awami League, Jatiya Party and many other emerging parties have started the process… there is a constitutional obligation to hold elections within 90 days of the expiry of Parliament’s term. But even this time-frame can be extended beyond January 7, as suggested by one of the election commissioners, if Bangladesh Nationalist Party (which didn’t take part in the last two general elections) or other parties decide to participate in the elections.” He added that the “situation is very fluid now”.
At a press interaction on Saturday, Momen said he briefed the Delhi-based diplomats about Dhaka’s stand on various geo-political and contemporary issues and the political dynamics of Bangladesh under the leadership of PM Sheikh Hasina.“I briefed them since there might be misconceptions as some opposition parties have been engaging in disruptive activities in recent times … and invited them as observers for the polls,” he said.
Memon, who was here for foreign office consultations (FOC) with his Indian counterpart Vinay Kwatra, said, “They (foreign mission heads) took note of our points and have agreed to send observers to the elections. We welcome foreign observers to the elections, we gave them guidelines and we have assured them of our cooperation,” he added.
Asked by TOI about participation of opposition parties in the general elections, Momen said, “Right now we are going through the schedule of submission and scrutiny of nomination papers. Awami League, Jatiya Party and many other emerging parties have started the process… there is a constitutional obligation to hold elections within 90 days of the expiry of Parliament’s term. But even this time-frame can be extended beyond January 7, as suggested by one of the election commissioners, if Bangladesh Nationalist Party (which didn’t take part in the last two general elections) or other parties decide to participate in the elections.” He added that the “situation is very fluid now”.
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