New York/Dhaka, Jan 6 (.) The United Nations has said that it will not be deploying observers to review Bangladesh’s upcoming parliamentary polls, due to the absence of a mandate from its principal decision-making bodies.
Responding to questions during the UN’s daily press briefing in NYC on Monday, UN Secretary General’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that the UN did not need to send election observers anywhere, unless authorised by either the UNGA or the UNSC.
As such, the body had last sent volunteers to observe Bangladesh’s elections, back in 2001.
Asked whether the UN would send observers to Dhaka for observing the national parliamentary elections scheduled for Feb 12, Dujarric confirmed it would not be doing so.
“No. We do not… the UN itself doesn’t send observers unless there is a mandate from the General Assembly or the Security Council. So that’s no longer something that we do,” adding that the UN may however consider resorting to other forms of engagement.
“I can check for you whether the UN country office is offering any technical support, which is something that we often do in terms of the elections,” he said.
When asked to comment on the return of the BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman to the country after 18 years and how it may affect the democratic transition in Bangladesh, Dujarric replied, “I’m not an assessor of news. Journalists assess news.
“So, we will support in any way we can elections and the free expression by the Bangladeshi people of their political vision for their country.”
In response to a question on the recent passing of former three-time premier Khaleda Zia, Dujarric expressed condolences on behalf of the organisation, and said, “We obviously send condolences to her family and to the people of Bangladesh on her passing.”
. . KK