US Envoy affirms US neutrality in Bangladesh elections

“The United States government does not take sides in Bangladesh's elections. The outcome of the election is for the Bangladeshi people and only the Bangladeshi people to decide,” he told reporters after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin in the city’s Nirbachan Bhaban.

“We are prepared to work with any government who the Bangladeshi people elect to represent them going forward,” said the US envoy.

Christensen said he is very excited about the upcoming elections. “I'm very much looking forward to them and to seeing the outcome of those elections.”

About the meeting with the CEC, he said it was a very good meeting to talk about the February-12 election and the Chief Election Commissioner explained to him a great deal about all of the policies, preparations, and procedures that the interim government has been doing in preparation for the February 12th elections.

Ambassador Christensen said the Chief Adviser told him last week that the Chief Adviser hopes that it will be a festive day for the Election Day. “I (the US envoy) share that hope that it is a festive election day that the Bangladeshi people are able to go and express themselves and that you have a very successful election,” he said.

“I look forward, like all of you, to seeing the result and votes on February 12th,” the US envoy.

Later, Senior Secretary of the Election Commission Akhtar Ahmed told reporters that the US envoy and his delegation were briefed on the overall management of the parliamentary election and referendum, with particular interest shown by them in the postal ballot system.

“We demonstrated sample postal ballots and explained the entire process, including how ballots will be received, counted, where the ballots will be brought, and the time frame for counting alongside the referendum ballots,” he said, adding that the US delegation described the process as complex and challenging and wished the commission good luck.

The EC Secretary said the ambassador also inquired about the enforcement of the electoral code of conduct and measures taken in cases of violations. 

The Election Commission explained that complaints are handled through a complaint management cell, inquiry committees and coordination with magistrates, Akhtar Ahmed said.

He said the US envoy also asked whether there had been any reports of excessive actions by law enforcement agencies.

In response, the EC said no such incidents had been reported at the commission level, and if any local issue was there, it was resolved locally, he said.

The EC Secretary said there will be no election observers from the United States in the election, but officials from the US Embassy will visit Dhaka, Sylhet, Chattogram and Khulna to observe the election.

The Election Commission will assist the observers from the US embassy in this regard, he said.

The delegation also sought information about polling stations, transportation arrangements and the law-and-order situation. The EC informed them that around 950,000 security personnel will be deployed during the election.

On December 11, the Election Commission announced the schedule to hold the 13th parliament election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on February 12 next, reports UNB.