In a press release issued by the European External Action Service (EEAS) on Tuesday 9 January, the European Union regrets that not all the major parties were able to take part in the legislative elections in Bangladesh on Sunday 7 January. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina won a fifth term in office after her ruling Awami League party took three quarters of the parliamentary seats.
Furthermore, the EU condemns the acts of violence that took place during the electoral period and calls for all violence to be refrained from in the post-electoral period.
“It is also key that the rule of law, judicial independence, due process and the right to peaceful assembly are respected and upheld in this period and beyond. In this regard, detention of opposition figures is highly concerning”, the press release goes on to say.
The EU nevertheless welcomes the fact that the authorities have agreed to make public the forthcoming report and recommendations of the EU Election Expert Mission, and calls for “all reported election irregularities to undergo an in-depth investigation in a timely manner” in the interests of transparency.
It encourages all stakeholders to respect political pluralism, democratic values and international human rights standards, and to engage in peaceful dialogue. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)