Most of the Civil Society personnel told the visiting European Union delegation that now the political situation in Bangladesh is peaceful and violence-free.
They also said that neither the civil society people proposed for any caretaker government for the next 12th Parliamentary Election nor the EU delegation team asked about it.
The six-member Election Exploratory Mission, which arrived in Dhaka on July 9 to survey the political atmosphere obtaining in the country ahead of the next national election, held four separate meetings with the civil society personnel on Sunday and another meeting earlier on Tuesday (July 11).
The EU delegation on Sunday held its first meeting with Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) Research Director Dr Mahfuz Kabir.
At the end of the one-hour long meeting from 9:00 to 10:00am, Dr Mahfuz Kabir told the media that the mission inquired about the current election atmosphere during the meeting.
“I told them that now the political situation is peaceful and violence-free. The EU should send an observer team before the election," he said.
In a separate meeting, the EU delegation held talks with Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) Secretary Badiul Alam Majumder. After the meeting, Badiul Alam Majumder said that he shared with them his experience.
He said, “I told them that the nation is looking forward to a free and fair election. I have thanked them for their assistance."
Asked if there was any discussion regarding the caretaker government, Badiul Alam Majumder replied in the negative as saying, “No."
Rather, Badiul Alam Majumder continued as saying, "The EU delegation wanted to know whether the country's condition is conducive to fair elections. But, I have not given any proposal.”
He, however, said, “In light of my past experience, I told that the election process must be correct. I have said that people should have the freedom to choose their options. The whole process should be transparent, and there should be no manipulation.”
Badiul Alam Majumder also said, “I said them that the election commission and law enforcement agencies will have to ensure the transparency of their own processes."
He also said that there should be an election observation mission on behalf of the EU which would be helpful in conducting fair elections.
Later, the EU team held another meeting with Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Executive Director Dr Fahmida Khatun at her office. But, Fahmida Khatun refrained from making any comment on the meeting.
Earlier on July Tuesday (July 11) the EU delegation held a meeting with representatives of the Election Monitoring Forum (EMF) at the EU office in the capital's Gulshan.
At the meeting the EMF leaders informed the EU Election Exploratory Mission that the Election Commission has proven its “impartiality, courage and capability” in holding free and fair polls in five city corporations held recently.
Though a major political party did not participate in the recently held elections in the five city corporations, a large part of their former councilors and local leaders took part in the elections and were elected, the EMF leaders said.
In all the local elections that have been held recently, the EMF leaders said, they have observed that the government has not interfered nor did they influenced the elections and has fully cooperated with the Election Commission in maintaining law and order.
Chairman of the Election Monitoring Forum, Professor Mohammad Abed Ali, was present during the meeting.
Advisor of the Election Monitoring Forum and former Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury, directors of the forum – Vice-Chancellor of DUET Prof M Habibur Rahman and BUET Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Abdul Jabbar Khan – were also present at the meeting.
During the meeting, the EMF leaders said the current Election Commission has recently implemented strict monitoring of law-and-order situation with CCTV cameras to ensure the safety of voters in local elections and cancellation of elections due to irregularities in Gaibandha by-election has boosted the confidence of voters.
The EMF leaders feel that there is a need to analyse not only the 2014 and 2018 elections but also the results of the 1996, 2001 and 2008 elections and the various complaints of the defeated opposition parties.
Welcoming the representatives of the EU mission, the EMF leaders said despite Bangladesh not being a member of the European Union, they are looking at the EU’s interest in polls in Bangladesh with a positive attitude.
Earlier on the first day of its two-week visit, the EU delegation had a meeting with the ambassadors of some countries at the Gulshan residence of Charles Whiteley, the EU ambassador in Dhaka.
During the last eight days, the EU delegation also held more than a dozen of separate meetings with different political parties, including ruling Awami League, BNP, Jatiya Party and Jamaat-e-Islami, several ministers, officials of different ministries, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Bangladesh Police. The delegation is also scheduled to hold more meetings with journalists and other people concerned.
The visiting EU delegation led by Chelleri Riccardo is trying to know whether there was any risk of violence during the election in Bangladesh.
The six-strong Election Exploratory Mission from the EU is visiting Bangladesh to conduct a feasibility study on the prospects of a free, fair, and participatory election and check if it would be possible to send election observers for the upcoming election.
The mission will evaluate the periphery of work, planning, budget, logistics, and security of the key election observer mission during its visit from July 8 to July 23.
The EU mission will submit its report to Josep Borrell, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs, as Charles Whiteley, the EU ambassador to Bangladesh, said earlier.
Based on the report, Borrell will make a decision on sending election observers to Bangladesh.
Besides, led by the US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, Uzra Zeya, the US delegation team already left Dhaka completing its two-day visit to Bangladesh. During its visit, the US team also held several meetings, including a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Before the departure, the Uzra Zeya expressed her happiness with the non-violent political atmosphere in Bangladesh.
Referring to the rallies of two major parties--Awami League and BNP—she mentioned that no incidence of violence was reported to her.
