EU for strong, impartial EC
The European Union has urged Bangladesh to form an independent, impartial, non-partisan and highly qualified Election Commission to hold the next general elections in a fully participatory way.
The call was made during the biennial meeting of the EU Sub-group on Good Governance and Human Rights in the framework of the EU-Bangladesh Cooperation Agreement in Brussels on Tuesday.
In a press release, the EU expressed concerns on extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, freedom of expression and of the media, freedom of association, the situation of the Rohingya, the death penalty and the depleting space for civil society.
Other issues discussed in the meeting included the rule of law, and law enforcement, human rights cooperation in the UN, rights of minorities, freedom of assembly, the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, rights of women, children and people with disabilities, fundamental labour rights, trade union registration and fair labour practices.
The EU called on Bangladesh to ensure that trade union registration processes are carried out in a transparent and expeditious manner, and that the labour law, the implementing regulation, and the draft law on Export Processing Zones comply with the ILO convention on freedom of association.
These issues will be further discussed at the EU-Bangladesh Joint Commission to be held in Brussels next year.
The EU recognised the long-standing solidarity of Bangladesh with those fleeing violence in Myanmar, and urged Bangladesh not to deport them or turn them back until the situation stabilises for their safe return to their homeland.
The EU encouraged Bangladesh to issue a standing invitation to UN Special Procedure mandate holders to visit Bangladesh and to ratify international convention for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance; protocol to the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women; optional protocols to the conventions on torture; rights of children and persons with disabilities; international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights; civil and political rights; and the second optional protocol to the international covenant on civil and political rights.
During the meeting, Bangladesh welcomed Principal Adviser for Gender Issues and UNSCR 1325 Mara Marinaki's offer of support on developing Bangladesh's action plan on women, peace and security.
The EU delegation was led by Veronica Cody, head of Division Regional Affairs for India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan in the European External Action Service (EEAS). Mohammad Shahidul Haque, secretary to Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of law, justice and parliamentary affairs ministry, led the Bangladesh delegation that included representatives from various ministries.