EC will hold fair elections
The Election Commission, with the support of all political parties, the administration and other stakeholders, will be able to hold an ”inclusive, fair and neutral” general election by the end of this year, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam said.
He made the remark while addressing as the chief guest at a reception marking the French National Day on Saturday evening. French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie-Annick Bourdin also spoke on the occasion.
The state minister said Bangladesh considered all human rights as universal, indivisible, interrelated, interdependent and mutually reinforcing.
“The fundamental rights envisaged in the constitution of Bangladesh reflect many of the human rights prescribed by international human rights law,” he said.
Bangladesh is a country with rich ethnic, religious and cultural diversity, Shahriar mentioned.
Bangladesh encourages the contribution of civil society and NGOs to national socio-economic development as well as to the promotion and protection of human rights initiatives, he said.
“I am confident that the diversity and depth of our relations will continue and widen, bringing tangible outcome and mutual benefits for our two peoples," he said.
He wished the continued happiness and well-being of the friendly people of the French Republic and everlasting friendship and good relations between France and Bangladesh.
French Ambassador Bourdin said Bangladesh and France could do more together in consolidating democracy through free and fair elections, as well as inclusive, and in defending the human rights of all women and men in the world, as well as in their respective countries.
She said they were convinced that two countries could do and achieve a lot more together in ensuring sustainable development for all, implementing the 2030 Agenda and assisting each other in implementing international commitments.
She added that the two friendly countries could do a lot in contributing to peace and stability, as both countries hold shared views on a number of issues of concern, and were active contributors to peacekeeping operations.
The ambassador talked about two countries' role in promoting the importance of education and diversity of languages and cultures, in which are rooted the identity, the sense of belonging, and individual rights of every citizen.
“They have been and remain key factors in our respective history and fight for emancipation,” she said.
Bourdin, while sharing a series of announcements, said President Emmanuel Macron invited leaders from all countries who contributed troops to the 1st World War, and Bangladesh had also been invited, to commemorate the 1918 armistice, on the 11th of November.
She said they would keep on supporting Bangladesh economic development through their ODA (official development assistance) and technical assistance, as well as through private sector companies.
Current and former ministers, diplomats, editors, civil society members and business leaders were present on the occasion.
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