6 int’l CSOs’ statement aimed to boost anti-election forces

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Dhaka, Jan 13 - The government of Bangladesh (GOB) has strongly rejected the "biased and unjustified" statement issued by six international civil society organizations regarding the recently held free, fair, credible and peaceful elections.

The allegations raised in the statement are false and baseless, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday.

"The joint statement is, therefore, misleading, one-sided and unacceptable. It has been issued with an ulterior motive to encourage anti-democratic and anti-election forces that made their ill attempts to thwart the elections," MoFA said in its reaction.

The preposterous calls for a fresh election do not commensurate with the acclamation poured on the government by the international community for conducting free, fair, credible and peaceful elections, MoFA said.

“Despite challenges due to the unleashing of violence by the BNP in the lead up the election, the polling day unfolded with an unprecedented level of peace, marked by only a few isolated incidents at a few polling centers”, MoFA said.

These measures were deemed necessary to uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of all citizens, said the government. – UNB

Many international election observers and journalists, who actively reported on the elections from the field, attested to this truth, it said.

The members of the law enforcing agency responded to the incidents of violence occurred in the run up to the elections with restraint, proportionality and in adherence to legal boundaries.

"There were no arrests on political ground.  Those who hurled petrol bombs on people and vehicles, set people on fire, killed and injured people and disrupted public life to subvert the elections were arrested under specific allegations," MoFA said.