British High Commissioner in Dhaka Sarah Cooke on Sunday hinted that the British government is willing to sending observers during the upcoming 12th National Polls in Bangladesh expected to be held in the last week of December this year or in the first week of January next year.
The British High Commissioner hinted it during her first meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal at the Election Commission Building in the capital’s Agargaon.
According to the official facebook of the British High Commision in Dhaka (UK in Bangladesh), the British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke met with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal to discuss the upcoming national elections. It also said, “The UK encourages free, fair, participatory and peaceful elections to allow the people of Bangladesh to exercise their democratic rights.”
“We have discussed the role of independent observers during the election”, said the British High Commissioner while talking to the media after the meeting with the CEC.
She said that the United Kingdom is always in favour of a democratic process that allows the citizens of Bangladesh to exercise their democratic rights in a transparent and inclusive manner.
During the meeting, High Commissioner Cooke underscored the UK's resolute support for free, fair, participatory, and peaceful elections in Bangladesh, thereby empowering citizens to play an active role in shaping their nation's destiny.
She said, "We had a very constructive and introductory discussion. The UK is encouraging free, fair, participatory and peaceful elections here in Bangladesh. So the citizens of Bangladesh can exercise their democratic rights."
Central to the discourse was the crucial role of robust and independent institutions in safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process.
The British envoy, at the time, highlighted the significance of the media and civil society as vital contributors to upholding democratic principles, fostering transparency, and enabling informed decision-making by the electorate.
Following the meeting, CEC Kazi Habibul Awal told the media that multiple issues were discussed in the meeting, including the upcoming election.
"She (The British High Commissioner) inquired about the election preparations and expressed optimism for a fair electoral process," the CEC said while echoing the same optimism that the upcoming election would be conducted with fairness and transparency.
During the discussion, the roles of various stakeholders, including the media and election observers, were extensively explored.
Habibul Awal said, "We have said we will focus on transparency. For this, we would be seeking objective support from the observers and the media."
He also recognised the pivotal role media plays in reflecting the true essence of an election and acknowledged the media's demand for logistical support, particularly about the use of motorcycles for election coverage.
Responding to the envoy, he said, "There are concerns about potential misuse of motorcycles and the involvement of muscle power. However, the demand itself was logical as it would be difficult to cover electoral activities without motorcycles.
"We have kept the matter under review and necessary changes to our policy will be made to address the issue," he added.
"High Commissioner Sarah Cooke hopes that the election will be participatory and credible," the CEC noted, insisting on the importance of the role of polling agents in this regard.
CEC at the time shared his plans to sensitize polling agents to maintain order and prevent malpractice within polling stations. The proactive approach according to him would contribute to reducing the likelihood of irregularities during the electoral process.
