British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke has said the United Kingdom is always in favour of a democratic process that allows the citizens of Bangladesh to exercise their democratic rights in a transparent and inclusive manner.
She made the remark after a meeting, which marked the inaugural interaction between the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), on Sunday (27 August).
During the meeting, High Commissioner Cooke underscored the UK's resolute support for free, fair, participatory, and peaceful elections in Bangladesh, thereby empowering citizens to play an active role in shaping their nation's destiny.
She said, "We had a very constructive and introductory discussion. The UK is encouraging free, fair, participatory and peaceful elections here in Bangladesh. So the citizens of Bangladesh can exercise their democratic rights."
Central to the discourse was the crucial role of robust and independent institutions in safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process.
The British envoy, at the time, highlighted the significance of the media and civil society as vital contributors to upholding democratic principles, fostering transparency, and enabling informed decision-making by the electorate.
Following the meeting, CEC Kazi Habibul Awal told the media that multiple issues were discussed in today's meeting, including the upcoming election.
"She inquired about the election preparations and expressed optimism for a fair electoral process," the CEC said while echoing the same optimism that the upcoming election would be conducted with fairness and transparency.
During the discussion, the roles of various stakeholders, including the media and election observers, were extensively explored.
Habibul Awal said, "We have said we will focus on transparency. For this, we would be seeking objective support from the observers and the media."
He also recognised the pivotal role media plays in reflecting the true essence of an election and acknowledged the media's demand for logistical support, particularly about the use of motorcycles for election coverage.
Responding to the envoy, he said, "There are concerns about potential misuse of motorcycles and the involvement of muscle power. However, the demand itself was logical as it would be difficult to cover electoral activities without motorcycles.
"We have kept the matter under review and necessary changes to our policy will be made to address the issue," he added.
"High Commissioner Sarah Cooke hopes that the election will be participatory and credible," the CEC noted, insisting on the importance of the role of polling agents in this regard.
CEC at the time shared his plans to sensitize polling agents to maintain order and prevent malpractice within polling stations. The proactive approach according to him would contribute to reducing the likelihood of irregularities during the electoral process.
