Dhaka, 30 May (IANS). Local media of Bangladesh said on Friday that European Union Ambassador Michael Miller has said that the European Union wants a successful democratic political change in the South Asian country. However, he does not advocate that the general elections in Bangladesh are ‘early or late’, it depends entirely on the government here.
Addressing reporters, Miller insisted that Muhammad Yunus -led interim government could use the expertise of implementing European Union reforms in Bangladesh. He highlighted the importance of fundamental rights, rule of law and appropriate process.
Bangladeshi Media Outlet UNB quoted the European Union Ambassador as saying, “We feel that any decision on the general election date here is Bangladesh’s decision. The European Union is not in the intention of pressurizing you to hold elections quickly or late. Doing so is not really our job. We want your political change, a successful change. We can use your own reformist agenda.
Earlier this month, Miller said that necessary reforms in the country should be fulfilled before holding national elections. He made these comments during a conversation with members of Bangladesh diplomatic correspondent association (DCAB) held at the National Press Club in Dhaka.
Miller said, “We hope that political parties and interim government will work together towards reforms.”
He further stated that the European Union wants elections to be held independent, fair and reliable as per the international standard. In response to a question, Miller said that the European Union is also interested in providing assistance for the election, but when the Bangladesh government decides when the elections are to be held.
Meanwhile, during his current visit to Japan, Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus reiterated that the country’s next general election will be held anytime between December this year and June next year.
Shafiqul Alam, press secretary of Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus, said, “Younus told former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aaso that elections will be held between December this year to June next year. He has set a time-limit of six months and elections will be held in the same period.”
On the other hand, the demand for restoration of democracy in Bangladesh has intensified amidst deteriorating political crisis. Earlier this week, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) warned that the upheaval in Bangladesh under the Unus-led interim government is going to get worse due to lack of any plan to hold elections in the near future.
Earlier, BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas, while attacking the interim government, said that the government is “rotten from head to toe”.
He warned, “If this government continues to run the country in this way, the loss will be more than the Awami League.”
Addressing a rally in front of the Central Office of BNP, he said, “This government is rotting from above. It is rotting down. They talk about reforms after the election. But, if they cannot do so in nine months, they will not do so even in nine years or 90 years. They should apologize and be removed.”
Abbas described the governance of the interim government as “colonial rule”. The BNP leader said, “This is a colonial government. Most of its members, perhaps 90 percent, are not even citizens of this country. But, these outsiders are now sitting on our shoulders.”
Lack of clear roadmap for conducting administrative reforms and elections in the country promoted a major political unrest in Bangladesh, as Younus held several meetings with leaders of various political parties last week, which are questioning their controversial policies and the performance of their suspected advisors.
As the pressure on Younus increased, he had earlier expressed his desire to resign in frustration. This development created a big discussion in political circles across the country.
Bangladesh Army Chief General War-Uz-Zaman has said that the next national election should be held by December and an elected government should come to power by January 1, 2026 after the “independent and fair” elections are over.
-IANS
GKT/ABM
