Voter participation key challenge in upcoming polls: EU Ambassador Miller
Miller reaffirmed that the EU will provide logistical support to help Bangladesh address the challenges of holding the upcoming national election and referendum.
Voter participation remains the biggest challenge in Bangladesh's upcoming 13th national parliamentary election, EU Ambassador Michael Miller said today (2 December).
He made the remarks while speaking to journalists after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasiruddin at the Election Commission building in Dhaka.
Miller reaffirmed that the EU will provide logistical support to help Bangladesh address the challenges of holding the upcoming national election and referendum.
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He further said that meeting the aspirations of citizens who have been unable to vote for more than a decade is a key responsibility for all stakeholders.
I think that all stakeholders in this country should be very focused on the possibility of holding the first free and fair elections in many, many years.
Miller said the EU plans to deploy a large observer mission to monitor the polls and expressed satisfaction with the Election Commission's preparations so far.
"I think that all stakeholders in this country should be very focused on the possibility of holding the first free and fair elections in many, many years," he said.
"This is a moment for the country to show that it is bucking the trend on democratic backsliding. It can reset its reputation with its international partners and demonstrate that it can hold these elections in a very correct and professional manner."
He said the EU supports timely and well-organised elections, noting that the forthcoming polls present "a great opportunity for Bangladesh to reset the narrative in terms of its own democratic path".
Miller also referred to a recent mock exercise conducted by the Election Commission to test its readiness for managing both the popular vote and the referendum on the July charter on the same day.
"I was impressed by the level of advanced preparation and the consideration given to the logistical challenges that an election and referendum together will entail," he said.
"The European Union recognises the commitment and professionalism of the Bangladesh Election Commission and its capacity to run well-prepared elections."
EU to deploy large election observer mission
Miller said the EU is preparing to send a large observer delegation for the upcoming national election.
He noted that the EU has been extending various forms of cooperation to support the electoral process and intends to continue doing so.
"The EU supports timely, transparent, and participatory elections. This is a great opportunity for Bangladesh," he told journalists.
He said the upcoming polls represent an important moment in Bangladesh's democratic trajectory, adding that he was impressed by the EC's preparatory work.
"I have seen the commitment and professionalism of the Election Commission and its capacity to conduct the vote. The European Union is preparing to deploy a very large election observer mission for this election," he said.
He added that Bangladesh's upcoming national polls were being treated as a major global event.
The 13th Parliamentary Election and the referendum are expected to be held in the first half of February, with the schedule to be announced by the Election Commission (EC) this month.
Today's meeting with CEC Nasiruddin comes three days after Miller attended a mock voting exercise conducted by the EC in Dhaka on Saturday (29 November).
