14 member countries of the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have urged Bangladesh Election Commission to create an environment for participatory and violence-free general elections.
Heads of Mission representing the OECD countries in Dhaka made the call during a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal and other officials in Dhaka on Sunday.
They discussed the preparations for the next parliamentary polls.
Envoys of the 14 countries including the USA, the UK, the EU, Germany, Japan, Canada, Turkey, Denmark, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Norway, Netherlands and France.
“The OECD wants a participatory and violence-free election and hopes that the election commission (EC) will take due steps in this regard,” Swiss Ambassador in Dhaka Nathalie Chuard told the journalists after the one and half-hour-long meeting.
“The OECD is ready to provide any kind of assistance to the EC in this regard,” she mentioned.
OECD member countries also urged the authorities to create an environment so that media and civil society can play an active role in holding a free and fair election, she added.
Later CEC Habibul Awal told the media that the EC also wants to hold a free and participatory election.
“They met us as per tradition. They wanted to know about our preparations and electoral rules” he said.
They said they will be happy to see an inclusive and fair election and we told them that we shall do whatever necessary to hold a fair and credible election, the CEC said.
