Elections to be genuine, credible: EU

The European Union (EU) has expressed confidence that the upcoming general elections in Bangladesh will be "genuine, credible and transparent", according to Business Standard.

It quoted Rensje Teerink, the EU ambassador to Bangladesh, as saying: "I have always been told that when Bangladesh gears up for elections, there will be political turmoil and mass demonstrations on the streets. But so far, I must say, it has been quite calm."

The Standard referred to an interview taken by Deutsche Welle (DW), in which the ambassador said: "We are confident and hopeful that it will be a genuine, credible, transparent and inclusive election."

General elections are scheduled to be held on 30 December to elect members of the Jatiya Sangsad or national assembly, with prime minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League hoping to remain in power for a third consecutive term.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Khaleda Zia, who has been in jail since February over a graft case, boycotted the 2014 elections.

The party has been demanding polls under a non-party government.

The EU is, however, optimist that the country of 170 million is strong enough to hold the parliamentary elections democratically, said the Business Standard report.

"Bangladesh has good local observers, who probably are going to do an excellent job monitoring the elections," Teerink reportedly told German news agency Deutche Welle (DW).

She was quoted to have added that the South Asian country has performed "exceedingly well when it comes to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Its economic expansion over the past decade has been impressive."

"We would like to see the country develop into a stable and prosperous place for all Bangladeshis," the EU envoy was quoted to have said.