‘Want to see democracy in action’
Diplomats say; foreign minister not happy with their ‘intervention’
Diplomats from various western countries in Dhaka said they wanted to see democracy in action in tomorrow’s city polls.
“The Dhaka City Corporation elections on February 1 are an opportunity for the citizens of Dhaka to exercise their democratic rights,” said nine diplomats on the Facebook page of UK High Commission yesterday evening.
“We look forward to seeing democracy in action in polling centres across the city,” they said.
They also hoped that the government, the Election Commission and all political parties would respect the citizens’ rights to cast their votes in a peaceful and festive atmosphere.
They added that the votes should be counted with fairness and integrity.
The signatories to the statement include Benoit Prefontaine, high commissioner of Canada; Charlotta Schlyter, ambassador of Sweden; Earl R Miller, ambassador of the United States; Robert Chatterton Dickson, high commissioner of the UK; Sidsel Bleken, ambassador of Norway; Winnie Estrup Petersen, ambassador of Denmark; Jeroen Steeghs, charge d’affairs of the Netherlands; Penny Morton, acting high commissioner of Australia, and Suzanne Muller, charge d’affairs of Switzerland.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen yesterday said it was regrettable that some foreign diplomats sometimes intervened in the country’s domestic issues.
He said this when reporters asked him for comments about a meeting of diplomats at the residence of British High Commissioner Wednesday night, three days before the city polls.
The Election Commission has a code of conduct and so do the diplomats, Momen said.
“We hope they will adhere to the codes. However, the Election Commission will take measures if a diplomat violates the rules.”
The diplomats should be responsible in their actions, he told reporters after the closing session of Bangladesh Development Forum at the capital’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
“If they don’t abide by the code of conduct, we will ask them to leave,” he added.
“The prime minister said that it should be an ideal election and there should be no interference,” he told reporters.
The EC in a statement said 74 officials of embassies and high commissions have been authorised to observe the polls.