DHAKA: The ever highest number of some 2,500 foreign observers from various countries and organisations, including Commonwealth and European Union, will arrive here to monitor the ninth Jatiya Sangsad (JS) election scheduled for December 29. Chief Election Commission (CEC) Dr ATM Shamasul Huda yesterday said this while speaking at the opening ceremony of the briefing to short-term observers of Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) at BRAC Inn in the city.
He urged the foreign observers to make their due contribution in giving the democracy a firm shape in Bangladesh. They will do their job very neutrally and sincerely according to the expectation of the people and political parties, the CEC hoped.
Dr Huda said, "We always lay importance to impartial and neutral election observation, particularly by the foreign observers, as they are not any interested party in our electoral process."
Moreover, political parties, despite having their reservation about some local observatory groups, shown their confidence in international observation, he said adding that the foreign observers will do their job freely without any influence in line with the expectation of voters and political parties.
The CEC said many foreign countries are keen to see the next election in Bangladesh, which is going to be held for the first time with an electoral roll with photographs, transparent ballot boxes and under a peaceful regime during the pre and post- election period.
Chairperson of the ANFREL and retired professor of philosophy and political science at St Lois University in the Philippines Damaso Magbual, former election commissioner of Nepal Surya Prasad Shrestra, and executive director of the ANFREL and former chair of the Amnesty International, Thailand, Somsri Han-anantasuk, among others, spoke on the occasion.
Referring to the electoral reforms, the CEC said the ninth parliamentary election in Bangladesh is under close monitoring by the political parties as well as outside world as many new electoral rules are going to be implemented through the elections.
He said the role of the observers is not only to monitor the accuracy of the poll, but also help institutionalize the fair electoral system.
In view of this, Dr Huda said the observers have been asked to submit specific reports on their observation in prescribed forms instead of making any sweeping remarks like in the past so that the EC can take corrective measures for next time.
Damaso Magbual said the ANFREL was formed in 1997 with the volunteers from 16 Asian countries and it observed 34 elections in the region. He said they would identify some 'critical areas' in Bangladesh where 20 observers will work for long-term and 50 observers for short-term basis.
He said the ANFREL is closely working with the Election Working Group (EWG) and they are not totally obligated to follow the directions of the local group.
"We will assess and then deploy our volunteers. Two things are very significant to make the election success-one is faith of people in the election process and the other is participation of people in the election, he said.
The former chief election commission of Nepal said the election is a part of human rights. The electoral roll with photographs is a major progress for democracy in Bangladesh, he said adding that a correct voter list is indispensable for a fair election.
Political parties must be dedicated and committed to democracy, which is very crucial for political stability in the region, he said.
Source: http://www.southasianmedia.
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Sanjay V. Gathia
Advisor (Project & Activities)
ANFREL www.anfrel.org
Mobile: + 66-831238248 (In Thailand 0831238248)
Email: sanjay.gathia@gmail.com
Skype: sanjaygathia
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