UK envoy for transparent, participatory next polls
The next general election in Bangladesh should be held in a transparent and competitive atmosphere with participation from all political parties, said Robert Chatterton Dickson, the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, yesterday.
"It is important that all the voices and all political parties are able to participate in the elections and are able to have confidence in the electoral process -- it would be good to have an election that is transparent and openly contested."
Dickson's comments came at the "DCAB Talk" organised by the Diplomatic Correspondent Association of Bangladesh (DCAB) at the Jatiya Press Club.
However, anything related to the election should be Bangladesh-driven and a Bangladesh-led process, he said.
"It is not the foreigners to say how the election should be held here. It is a matter for the Bangladeshi people to decide."
There is plenty of expertise and talent in Bangladesh to make the election a Bangladesh-driven process reflecting the values of the country's constitution, he said.
The UK would continue to support plural and democratic practice in Bangladesh and support as far as possible, as external friends, a fair electoral process with protections for voters and participants in the next general election.
The British government would watch with interest as preparations were made for institutions like the Election Commission and looked forward to that sending a strong commitment on a free and fair process for the elections when they were next held.
Dickson also expressed concern over the recent violence against minority communities in Bangladesh. "The UK stood with those who supported tolerance and religious freedom."
When asked what steps were taken after Labour MP Tulip Siddiq's car was vandalised, Dickson said he cannot comment on the investigation process but said it has been taken very seriously.
Regarding the allegations of propaganda and conspiracy against Bangladesh from the UK, Dickson said the court has jurisdiction over returning a criminal. However, in the UK, if someone spreads hatred, the UK government takes action.
He called for the implementation of the cross-border higher education rule of Bangladesh that was enacted in 2016 but is yet to be deployed.
As many as nine British universities are keen to come to Bangladesh to cooperate in the areas of higher education, he said, adding that the UK also wants to get highly qualified people from Bangladesh through a point-based migration system.
DCAB President Pantho Rahaman and its General Secretary AKM Moinuddin also spoke at the event.
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