Western diplomats urge govt to respect voters’ rights

The head of missions stationed in Dhaka on Thursday hoped that all stakeholders in Bangladesh including the government, the election commission and the political parties would respect the citizens' rights in casting their vote and counting the votes with fairness and integrity.

The high commissioners and ambassadors of nine western countries on Thursday expressed their hope in a joint statement ahead of the two city polls of the capitals slated for Saturday.

The joint statement was issued on the verified Facebook page of the Norway embassy in Dhaka on Thursday evening. Later, UK in Bangladesh, a verified Facebook page of UK high commission also uploaded the same statement.

The statement reads, "The Dhaka city corporation elections on 1 February are an opportunity for the citizens of Dhaka to exercise their democratic rights. We look forward to seeing democracy in action in polling centres across the city. We hope the government of Bangladesh, the election commission and all political parties will respect the rights of citizens to cast their votes in a peaceful and festive atmosphere, and count the votes with fairness and integrity."

The joint statement was issued by the US ambassador Earl Miller, UK high commissioner Robert Chatterton Dickson, Canada high commissioner Benoit Préfontaine, Sweden ambassador Charlotta Schlyter, Switzerland ambassador René Holenstein, Norway ambassador Sidsel Bleken, Denmark ambassador Winnie Estrup Petersen, the Netherlands Charge d’Affairs Jeroen Steeghs, and acting Australia high commissioner Penny Morton.