CT Online Desk

‘Our advice, not to repeat myself, is that everyone involved in elections, government, opposition, journalists, civil society, all work together to ensure elections where people can express themselves freely, where people can vote freely and that the inclusive elections be inclusive and peaceful,’ the UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told a routine briefing at the UN headquarters in New York on December 1.

Responding to a question on Bangladesh’s upcoming election, he called all the stakeholders including all people, all parties and the media to do whatever they could to promote a peaceful, inclusive, and credible electoral process.

‘All I can tell you is what I've said to you before and I think to some other Bangladeshi reporters that for the Secretary-General, it is very important that the elections that are coming up are… that all those who are participating, all the stakeholders, the people, the parties, the media, all do whatever they can to promote peaceful, inclusive, and credible electoral process,’ the UN secretary-generals spokesperson mentioned.

The Election Commission is set to hold the 12th parliamentary election on January 7, 2024 amid boycotts by major opposition parties, including the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, pressing for resignation of the ruling Awami League and holding the election under a non-party caretaker government.