Bangladesh election should enable resumption of normal democratic life

The elections in Bangladesh, scheduled for 29 December, should enable the resumption of normal democratic life in the country and the re-constitution of the parliament, the Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group has said.

HE Cassam Uteem told journalists that he is "very glad that the State of Emergency has now been fully lifted so that the election campaign and polling can be conducted under normal conditions."

"As the Secretary-General noted during his visit to Dhaka in October, democracy and good governance are core Commonwealth principles and the restoration of representative democracy in Bangladesh is as important to the Commonwealth as it is to the people of Bangladesh themselves."

The task of the Commonwealth Observer Group is to observe and report on relevant aspects of the organisation and conduct of the elections.

The group will consider all the factors impinging on the credibility of the electoral process as a whole, and assess whether the elections have been conducted according to the standards for democratic elections to which Bangladesh has committed itself.

Introducing the team of observers, Mr Uteem explained: "They come from across the Commonwealth, from current and former members of parliament to a former chief election commissioner and representatives of civil society and the media."

For the full statement click here

Pictures from Dhaka

Note to Editors

For media enquiries, please contact Tom Baird at +88 01737 539 622 (Bangladesh mobile), +44 791 246 3744 (UK mobile) or t.baird@commonwealth.int

Key Links:

• Democracy
• Country Profile: Bangladesh