New Delhi (India)
The Japanese government has sent an election observer mission to Bangladesh, which will monitor pre- and post election situation from Friday to January 9. This is being done to support fair implementation of the general election scheduled for January 7.
"The mission will be headed by Mr. WATANABE Masato, former Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh, and will comprise officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh as well as an outside expert," said a press release of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Japan received in Dhaka on Thursday.
The release said that besides observing the casting and counting of votes, the mission will exchange views and information with the Bangladesh Election Commission and election observer missions from other countries.
The dispatch of the election observer mission is part of Japan's cooperation for the consolidation of democracy in Bangladesh in response to the Bangladesh Election Commission's announcement that it would welcome international election observers, it added.
Hailing the move by the Japanese government, Mr Keita Ueki, Bureau Chief of Jiji news agency who is presently in Dhaka to cover the elections, said,'' Those supporting opposition parties in Bangladesh are scared to talk or be interviewed. In such a scenario, the despatch of a team of election observers from Japan, is being seen by the voters in Bangladesh as a good confidence building measure.''
According to news reports, Armed fores in Bangladesh will remain on field duty for eight straight days from 3-10 January as per Section 126 of the constitution’s “In Aid to the Civil Power”.
“The armed forces will be responsible for ensuring peace and order before, during, and after the election day,” Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a Press release.
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