EU does not observe polls under emergency

EU does not observe polls under emergency: Euro MP
Wed, Aug 6th, 2008

Dhaka, Aug 6 (bdnews24.com) – Visiting European member of parliament Nirj Deva on Wednesday said the EU supported a total lift of the state of emergency ahead of national polls.

After a meeting with acting Awami League president Zillur Rahman at his Gulshan home, Nirj Deva told reporters that the European Union observers did not observe any election held amid the state of emergency.

The EU wanted the emergency be lifted, he said.

Deva added that the EU was an ally of Bangladesh and it was willing to help the country.

The European parliament member, who also met with chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda, said that the CEC had told him that the elections would be held in the third week of December.

Mentioning that the next election was very significant for the people of Bangladesh, Deva said the EU could assist the government in protecting human rights in the country.

Asked about Monday's polls to four city corporations and nine municipalities, he said that the EU was happy that the polls were held peacefully.

The polling rate was overwhelming; it was apparently a good election, he said.

Acting AL general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam and AL president Sheikh Hasina's special assistant Hasan Mahmud were also present in Wednesday's meeting at Zillur's home.

AL leader Ashraful Islam told reporters that the meeting had discussed bilateral issues. Deva has also met with the army chief, foreign adviser and home adviser.