Now media to watch Jan 5 polls: CEC
When different countries and organisations have been expressing their unwillingness to send observers, the Election Commission apparently wants to bank on the local media for monitoring the January 5 parliamentary polls.
"You (journalists) are here. You will watch yourself and show the countrymen," said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad today when journalists asked him if the election would be questionable if international observers do not monitor it.
European Union, Commonwealth and the US have declared that they would not send observers if the election is not held in a transparent, non-violent and inclusive manner.
"We have invited them to monitor the polls. Every organisation has its own guideline. They will decide about sending observes according to their own rules," the CEC said.
He added that they have decided they will not come but others will come and local observers will monitor the election.
Asked if it will hurt the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the countries and organisations that have decided not to send observers, Rakibuddin replied: "This is not a matter of bilateral relations."
On December 20, the European Union declined to send observers for the January 5 elections, saying political forces in Bangladesh had been unable to create the necessary conditions for transparent, inclusive and credible elections, despite many efforts, including most recently under UN auspices.
The Common Wealth declared its decision not to send observers while the US joined the fleet by expressing their unwillingness to monitor the election.
A total of 154 candidates have already been elected uncontested amid the boycott of the election by the main opposition BNP.
The BNP-led 18-party opposition demanding non-party caretaker government to observe the elections has been in almost continued demonstrations since the announcement of the schedule on November 25.
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