EU parliament urges speedy restoration of democracy

The European Parliament (EP) has urged the caretaker government to act in accordance with the rule of law and speed up the restoration of democracy.
The EP also expressed deep concern over the authorities' actions including "the disproportionate response of the military and the police against the student protests which erupted in late August at Dhaka University".
"Parliament is concerned about the arrest and justification for ongoing detention of Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh Nationalist Party President Khaleda Zia and about the case of Sigma Huda, who has been sentenced on bribery charges," read a resolution adopted on Bangladesh by the Members of European Parliament (MEPs) on Thursday.
According to the resolution posted on the EP's website, the European Parliament urged the authorities to conduct the trials transparently and according to the rule of law and allow access by international observers to all tribunals.
The MEPs called for a return to democracy and lifting of the state of emergency in Bangladesh.
They also urged the government to lift the ban on all political activity to enable all parties and political organisations to prepare for open and fair elections.
The MEPs viewed that the caretaker government has made progress on tackling corruption but has been far less assertive on political reform.
The EP asked the government "to reconsider its present roadmap for elections and to speed up its preparations" and also "to make progress with the creation of a National Human Rights Commission".
The EP also welcomed the EU's commitment to grant technical support to the Bangladeshi authorities for the elections and called for the EU election observation mission to resume its long-term activities as soon as possible.
"The Council and the Commission are asked to monitor carefully the human rights and political situation in Bangladesh in the light of recent events and to make representations over the continuing use of the state of emergency," read the resolution.