DHAKA — A high-level European Union Election Observation Mission delegation met Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, leader of the opposition in Parliament and ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, in a courtesy call on Tuesday.
The meeting was held at the opposition leader’s office in the Parliament Building on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 28.
The delegation was led by EU Election Observation Mission Chief Ivars Ijabs. Other members included Deputy Head of Delegation Baiba Zarina, Deputy Chief Observer Inta Lase, Legal Analyst Irene Maria Gounari, and Rayan Islam.
Also present with the opposition leader were Barrister Ahmad Bin Quasem Arman, member of Parliament for Dhaka-14, and Ali Ahmad Mabroor, member of the opposition leader’s foreign affairs advisory team.
The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere. Ijabs opened by thanking the opposition leader for his constructive role.
The delegation presented Shafiqur Rahman with an EU Election Observation Mission report on Bangladesh’s recent 13th national election.
The visiting mission also sought an update from the opposition leader on progress in implementing the July Charter.
The opposition leader outlined his party’s positions on the context of the national election and on the referendum and other issues. He said the BNP had agreed to several reforms in the National Consensus Commission but was now stalling on implementing them. If the situation continued, he said, the public could lose confidence in political leaders.
The opposition leader also raised concerns about the broader law and order situation, citing violence by ruling party activists in several parts of the country, unrest at multiple universities, and attacks on Jamaat members of Parliament in several locations.
The visiting EU mission members emphasized the importance of strengthening democracy in Bangladesh, establishing political balance and carrying out needed reforms. They also briefed the opposition leader on several recommendations for ensuring a free and fair next election.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report