The Commonwealth assistant secretary general, Professor Luis Franceschi, on Tuesday said that his organisation expected a fair and participatory national election in Bangladesh.
He made the remark during a visit to the Electoral Reform Commission at Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka.
A six-member delegation, including Mohammad Abdullah-Al-Mamun, director at the foreign affairs ministry, visited the reform commission office on the day.
After the post-meeting press briefing, Luis said to journalists, 鈥榃e always advocate for neutral and participatory elections, where the people鈥檚 opinions are truly reflected.鈥�
In response to a question seeking suggestions for free and fair elections, he said that recommendations for free and fair elections should come from the Electoral Reform Commission.
鈥榃e could only provide support and assistance,鈥� Luis said.
He said that the Commonwealth consists of 2.7 billion members and 56 countries, all of which are consistently interested in ensuring fair elections.
Electoral Reform Commission chief Badiul Alam Majumder and five members were present during Luis鈥檚 visit.
鈥楾he Commonwealth has expressed interest to provide us with support for holding elections. They are expecting a free and fair election in Bangladesh,鈥� Badiul said.
On the same day, the Commonwealth team also visited the constitution reform commission office at the Parliament.
Meeting with the commission chief Professor Ali Riaz and other members, Luis assured them of full support in preparing their reform proposal.
Riaz said that the commission was adamant to complete the reform proposal within the time frame.聽聽聽
According to the commission鈥檚 press release, the Commonwealth high officials including Dinusha Panditaratne, Michelle Scobie, Nancy Kanyago, and Sarthak Roy were also in the delegation.
鈥楾he Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent and equal countries. The Commonwealth鈥檚 roots go back to the British Empire. But today any country can join the modern Commonwealth,鈥� the organization鈥檚 website said.
