UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urges all stakeholders to ensure an environment free of violence during and intimidation in the run-up to the general election in Bangladesh, United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement on Thursday.
UNITED NATIONS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 28th December, 2018) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urges all stakeholders to ensure an environment free of violence during and intimidation in the run-up to the general election in Bangladesh, United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement on Thursday."The Secretary-General, in the run-up to the 30 December general elections in Bangladesh, calls on all stakeholders to ensure an environment free of violence, intimidation and coercion before, during and after the elections, so as to enable a peaceful, credible and inclusive poll," Dujarric said.
Guterres also reaffirmed the commitment of the United Nations to assist Bangladesh in ensuring a democratic and peaceful environment and encouraged electoral observers to guarantee that all citizens, including minorities and women, feel safe and free when voting, Dujarric added.
About 40,000 polling stations will be opened throughout Bangladesh on election day, and more than 600,000 police officers will be engaged in ensuring security during the vote, according to the Chief Election Commissioner of Bangladesh representative.
The Defense Ministry of Bangladesh has confirmed its readiness to strengthen civilian law enforcement agencies by involving ground forces before and during the vote.
The Awami League Party is the current ruling party with the majority of seats in parliament led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In November, Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which boycotted the last election in 2014, together with other opposition parties, confirmed its participation in the upcoming election on December 30.
