Commonwealth to observe Bangladesh Elections; Former President of Mauritius to lead team

Welcoming the lifting of the State of Emergency in Bangladesh, Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma has announced that the Commonwealth Observer Group for the Bangladesh Parliamentary Elections of 29 December 2008 will be led by the former President of Mauritius, H E Cassam Uteem.

"These elections are extremely important for Bangladesh, offering an opportunity for the resumption of normal democratic life in the country and the re-constitution of the nation's parliament", said Mr Sharma. "The lifting of the State of Emergency means that the election campaign and the election day can now be conducted under more regular conditions for genuine elections."

"The Commonwealth Observer Group will determine in its own judgement whether the election is conducted according to the standards to which Bangladesh has committed itself, in adhering to national election-related legislation and relevant regional, Commonwealth and other international commitments," Mr Sharma continued.

Bangladesh's electoral system

In the National Parliament, 300 members are elected by simple majority vote in single-member constituencies to serve five-year terms.

(Source: www.electionguide.org)

The Group comprises ten people, and will be in Bangladesh from 22 December 2008 to 4 January 2009. They will be supported by a staff team from the Commonwealth Secretariat led by the Head of Democracy, Mark Stevens.

The Group was constituted at the invitation of the caretaker government, and follows an Assessment Mission made to Bangladesh in November 2008.

This Assessment Mission established that there is a broad welcome for the presence of a Commonwealth Observer Group for the elections and that, providing the State of Emergency was lifted, the minimum conditions for democratic elections were largely provided for.

The Group will act impartially and independently, and conduct itself according to the standards expressed in the International Declaration of Principles to which the Commonwealth is a signatory. It has no executive role: its function is not to supervise but to observe the process as a whole, and to form a judgement accordingly.

The Group will issue an Interim Statement after the elections. In its Final Report, the Group is free to propose to the authorities concerned recommendations for change on institutional, procedural and other matters which could assist in the holding of future elections.

The Commonwealth Observer Group comprises:

Note to editors:

For media enquiries please contact Tom Baird on 00-44-791-246-3744 or t.baird@commonwealth.int

Key Links:

• Democracy
• Country Profile: Bangladesh