Dhaka, April 07 – The last parliamentary polls of Bangladesh held in December did not meet the standard of fairness, said visiting
He said
“As a friend of Bangladesh it gives me no pleasure to say this, but I fear the Parliamentary elections which took place here in December did not meet this standard,” he added.
He came up with the statement while delivering his keynote address on “Governance and Development – the Way Forward for Bangladesh,” organised by Policy Research of Bangladesh (PRI) at a city hotel.
Among others, prime minister’s political affairs adviser HT Imam, and prime ministers economic affairs adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman and executive director of PRI Dr Ahsan
Mark further said, “We all recognise that the notion of choice is crucial in any healthy democracy. Without it, there is a risk that voters might seek other ways of achieving the changes they want.
Ultimately, that could pose a much greater threat to stability than allowing them to express their views through democratic channels.”
Regarding the importance of political opposition, he said, “It is so important to have a political opposition in place, one that is able and willing to hold the Government to account and offer an alternate view.”
He also talked about the space for a vibrant civil society. “It is so vital to allow space for a vibrant civil society, through which the people – and especially young people – can channel their energies, and
indeed their frustrations, within the law.”
Mark who is also state minister for Asia and the Pacific at the foreign and Commonwealth office said, Bangladesh has a fine tradition of allowing people to voice dissent and express themselves freely.
He also underscored the allowing of media to do its job of holding the powerful to account, which is so crucial in upholding the transparency and credibility of the institutions and bearing down on corruption. – Staff Reporter
