As the formal election campaign begins, 10 heads of mission of European countries called for ensuring ‘a genuine, credible, inclusive and transparent electoral process’.

In a joint statement issued on Monday, they callED on the government of Bangladesh, the Bangladesh election commission and all stakeholders to act accordingly.

The campaign for the 30 December parliamentary elections began Monday with distribution of poll symbols to party and independent candidates.

The heads of mission urged all stakeholders to uphold and protect citizens' rights to universal suffrage, freedom of expression and right to peaceful assembly.

They welcomed the commitment made by the EC and the government in this respect, according to the statement issued by heads of mission of the European Union and the heads of mission of Norway and Switzerland.

They urged the law enforcement agencies to strictly adhere to the rule of law.
The European diplomats called upon all political parties to meet their democratic responsibilities and to refrain from violence.

“Media and civil society scrutiny is particularly important in ensuring transparency throughout this process,” they said in the statement.

They added that participatory elections constitute an important step in the ongoing process of national development for all Bangladeshi citizens.

Tthe statement was signed by ambassador Rensje Teerink of the EU delegation, British high commissioner Alison Blake, ambassador of Spain D lvaro de Salas Giménez de Azcarate, ambassador of Sweden Charlotta Schlyter, ambassador of France Marie-Annick Bourdin, ambassador of Germany Peter Fahrenholtz, ambassador of the Netherlands Harry Verweij, ambassador of Denmark Winnie Estrup Petersen, ambassador of Norway Sidsel Bleken, and ambassador of Switzerland Ren Holenstein.