Bangladesh election not according to democratic standards: UK

Photo: Collected. The United Kingdom has commented that the 12th National Parliament election of Bangladesh held on January 7 was not according to democratic standards. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country expressed this opinion in a statement on Monday.

The statement said, “Democratic elections depend on acceptable, free, and fair competition. Respect for human rights, rule of law, and due process are essential components of the democratic process. These standards were not consistently upheld during the elections. We are concerned about the arrest of a significant number of opposition party leaders ahead of the polls."

"We condemn acts of violence and intimidation in the run-up to and campaigning for elections," the UK statement added. Such activities have no place in politics. Not all parties participated in the elections. That's why the people of Bangladesh didn't have enough options to vote."

The statement added, “The UK and Bangladesh have historic and deeply friendly relations. A sustainable political consensus and an enabling environment for an active civil society will enable the long-term growth of the country. We appeal to all the political parties of Bangladesh to eliminate differences and find a common way forward for the benefit of the people. We also announce our continued support for this process.”

Source: UK Government Website