Home Minister assures US team of violence-free poll campaign
Staff Reporter :
The visiting US pre-election assessment delegation inquired about the possibility of violence in the next parliamentary election and whether the opposition political parties would be able to campaign freely.
The US pre-election mission wanted to know about this during a meeting with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan held at the secretariat on Wednesday.
The US team also wanted to know from the Home Minister, if the opposition joins the polls, whether proper security would be provided to the opposition candidates during elections.
Earlier, the nine -member US mission held a meeting with the Home Minister.
“We clearly told them that our police and security forces-that go under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission during the election-are very well-trained and well-informed.
So, we don’t think there would be any problem,” Asaduzzaman Khan said while briefing journalists on what message the government conveyed to the visiting US mission.
The Home Minister also told the US team that he does not think there would be any violence during the election.
If any candidate says that the election was not peaceful or if any political party is concerned about safety, then what action will be taken, the US delegation asked to know from the home minister.
“Election Commission can take necessary action,” the Home Minister informed the delegation.
There will be no violence during the upcoming national polls in Bangladesh, the Home Minister said adding that the election will be held completely violence-free and peaceful.
He said, “The incumbent government has established the rule of law in the country.
Moreover, the people of Bangladesh want a peaceful environment.
As a result, we do not think that there will be any violence in the upcoming elections.”
Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said that the US pre-election assessment team was informed that a large number of well-trained members of the police, BGB and Ansar are kept ready to tackle any untoward situation.
“Some six members of Ansar will play a key role in the upcoming elections at every polling centre.
Police, BGB and Coast Guard personnel will also be there along with them,” he added.
He also said that transparent ballot boxes, photo voter lists, and the role of media and social media were all highlighted to the US observation team; the roles of the returning officers and presiding officers have been explained to them too.
When asked will BNP join the poll sans caretaker government, Asaduzzaman Khan replied, “It’s up to BNP whether they will join the polls or not.
Elections will take place as per the constitution of the country.
The government has no opportunity to go beyond the constitution.
It is up to the United States if they want to send election observers or not. Our election will be held according to the constitution.”
A joint International Republican Institute (IRI) and National Democratic Institute (NDI) mission arrived in Bangladesh on 8 October to assess the pre-election situation in Bangladesh.
From 8 to 12 October, the six-member delegation will meet with a diverse group of election stakeholders, including government officials, political party leaders, election authorities, civil society, and others.
The NDI and IRI are nonpartisan, nongovernmental organisations which support and strengthen democratic institutions and practices worldwide. The organisations have collectively observed more than 200 elections in more than 50 countries over the last 30 years.
The delegation is co-chaired by Inderfurth and Bonnie Glick, former Deputy USAID Administrator; and includes Maria Chin Abdullah, former Member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia; Jamil Jaffer, former Associate Counsel to the President of the United States; Manpreet Singh Anand, NDI Regional Director for Asia-Pacific; and Johanna Kao, IRI Senior Director, Asia-Pacific Division.
