Photo: Collected
International observers, including from the US and Canada, on Sunday (7 January) described the just-held 12th National Parliamentary Election in Bangladesh "free, fair and peaceful."
They congratulated the Election Commission for conducting the elections successfully and efficiently.
"I found very peaceful, free and fair elections," Jim Bates, former US congressman and an election observer from the US, told reporters at a media briefing Sunday evening.
"I'd like to say it's a free and fair election already," he added.
"The thing they keep talking about is low turnout: that's a misnomer. In some countries, voting goes on till 5/6 pm or even months," Jim Bates said.
He said Bangladesh has the shortest voting time in the world.
"So, when they say 'low turnout,' that's something to manoueuvre the press," Bates said.
Jim Bates is an American former politician who served as a Democratic elected official from San Diego, California.
He served four terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 1991.
Chandra Arya, Member of Parliament, Canada and Victor Oh, Senator, Canada also briefed the media separately.
The independent election observers from Canada said, "Today is one of the important days in the history of Bangladesh. Today the citizens of Bangladesh have exercised their fundamental and valuable right to vote and chose their representatives. Today, in the true spirit of democracy, the people of Bangladesh have determined who get their mandate to take the country forward for the next 5 years."
Chandra Arya said they all will now wait to see the newly elected representatives of the people who will shoulder the responsibility of governing the country and deliver the commitments made during the course of election campaign.
"We noted that even with the call for boycott a record number of female candidates and a transgender candidate among the 28 political parties and over 1900 candidates including independents contesting the elections," he said.
They also noted the efforts of the Bangladesh Election Commission to reach out to voters and specifically to the younger generation to encourage them to participate in the elections.
"We confirmed there was a process within the Bangladesh Election Commission to address any complaints from the voters or the political parties or the candidates," Chandra Arya said.
"We wish to congratulate the Bangladesh Election Commission on successfully conducting a free and fair elections," he added.
"With one of us being an elected Member of Canadian Parliament and having contested and won three times in row, we are personally aware of the complexity of managing an election."
The Canadian observers recognized and commended the excellent work of Bangladesh Election Commission in marshaling all the institutions of the state and delivering a "free, fair and successful" elections.
In a separate briefing, Head of the Russian election monitoring delegation Andrey Y Shuvot said they are satisfied with the peaceful elections.
"These elections are legitimate," he told reporters.
Scottish MP Martyn Day in his brief remarks, said the elections were fairly smooth, but voters' turnout was relatively low.
Chief Electoral Officer of Palestine Hisham Kuhali on Sunday said Bangladeshis should be proud of electoral procedures that are in place and expressed satisfaction over the smooth completion of the vote casting.
"We noticed quiet and peaceful election. We have not noticed any sign of violence," he told reporters at a media briefing at a Dhaka hotel.
Kuhali said the procedures of casting votes were very simple and straightforward.
"This is very good by international standards," he said, referring to time it takes to cast a vote.
The international observer said people are well informed and well trained who are helping voters to cast their votes.
Asked about the voters' turnout, he said, "We are here to judge the voting procedures. You should be proud of your process."
Member of Arab Parliament Abdihakim Moalliam described the elections as "smooth" and conducted in a very efficient way.
He appreciated the democratic exercise in Bangladesh, noting that it was a shining example of peace and unity.
The foreign observers visited several centres.
Around 127 foreign observers are currently in Dhaka to observe the 12th National Parliamentary Election.
Messenger/Sun Yath
