Dhaka – Expressing its ‘extreme disappointment’ over Sunday’s election results, Canada on Monday urged all to reach an agreement soon to allow the next elections to be ‘truly participatory’ welcoming major political parties’ willingness to consider holding a new national election.
“Canada urges all parties to reach an agreement soon that would allow the next election to be truly participatory, with results that all Bangladeshis will see as credible,” said John Baird, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister, in a statement issued on the electoral situation in Bangladesh.Canada also called on all parties to look beyond their immediate political concerns and work cooperatively to focus nationally on Bangladesh’s development and its bright future.
On the adverse impact on economy in absence of political stability, the Canadian Minister said political instability has bred economic instability, which has caused long-term damage to Bangladesh’s economy and may continue to do so.
“We fear that this damage has undermined Bangladesh’s economic progress and developmental path,” he said.
John Baird said Canada joins the United States and the European Union in expressing regrets that the major political parties in Bangladesh were unable to negotiate a solution that would have enabled a fully participatory election on January 5, 2014.
He, however, said the availability of individual choice is fundamental to a vibrant democracy.
“It’s therefore extremely disappointing that more than half of the country’s parliamentary seats were not contested freely, but instead were filled through acclamation,” said the minister.
He said Canada condemns the violence in Bangladesh in the strongest terms, particularly the senseless attacks on the most vulnerable citizens—children, women, and religious and ethnic minorities.
“Canada notes with dismay the violence and controversy that marred the electoral period,” he said adding that hundreds of Bangladeshi citizens were killed in political violence in 2013.
John Baird said violence as a political strategy is unacceptable and renewed Canada’s call on all parties to publicly renounce and condemn political violence. – UNB
