The upcoming national election in Bangladesh should be free, fair and credible, said EU envoy to Bangladesh, adding that the bloc has no say on when the election should be held.
“We are not pressuring anyone to hold elections on a specific date,” Michael Miller said during a discussion organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) at the Jatiya Press Club yesterday.
He also said that the EU wants all perpetrators of human rights violations, before and during the July uprising, to be held accountable through a fair and transparent process.
Asked about the EU’s position on election timing, given the differing opinions among political parties, Miller said it is up to the people of Bangladesh to decide.
Miller said the EU fully supports the ambitious reform agenda of the interim government, saying it will be “a very significant milestone” in Bangladesh’s democratic transition.
“However, as the European Union, we do not have an opinion on the timeline,” he said.
He, however, noted that carrying out the reforms would be time-consuming.
“We do think that there needs to be sufficient time to implement reforms under this interim government. So … a bit of space needs to exist,” he added.
He stressed that the elections need to be free, fair and credible.
“We want to be part of that success story. Because it [the election] will be, if you like, a very significant milestone in your political transition.”
Miller said the EU is in the process of contacting the entities that will work with the Election Commission to create awareness among citizens on the importance of democratic elections.
The EU is also working to make sure that disinformation cannot undermine the free and fair conduct of the polls.
“This is what we have in the pipeline at the moment,” he said.
Miller said the judicial process for trying those involved in the July uprising and prior human rights abuses must be transparent, fair, and respectful of legal rights.
Referring to a UN report that found security forces of the former government killed around 1,400 people and arbitrarily detained over 11,700 during the 2024 student-led protests, he said judicial authorities must now hold the accused accountable based on clear evidence and timely trials.
“We want each and every perpetrator to be held accountable, but the trial process has to be fair and transparent,” he said.
“If an individual is accused of a serious crime, there should be evidence. If there is evidence, then those individuals should be brought to trial. If there is a trial, it should not be delayed and should not be on the basis of imprecise charges,” Miller said.
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is currently trying cases related to crimes against humanity during the July uprising and the previous 15-year Awami League regime. Over 300 complaints have been filed so far.
Referring to some EU member states’ transition history from authoritarianism to democracy, Miller said the bloc is ready to share its knowledge and provide financial and political support for Bangladesh’s reform efforts.
“We are waiting for political parties and the interim government to agree on a prioritised list of reforms,” he said.
Miller also expressed the EU’s desire to deepen cooperation with Bangladesh in areas including fundamental rights, security, climate change, trade, and investment.
On gender equality, he urged all political stakeholders to engage with the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission’s recommendations.
“We would like to see them translated into action, and we will contribute to the effort to promote greater equality,” he said, noting that gender equality is a universal value.
He reaffirmed EU support for a political solution to the Rohingya crisis and its continued humanitarian assistance in both Bangladesh and Rakhine.
DCAB President AKM Moinuddin and General Secretary Arifuzzaman Mamun also spoke at the event.
Collected Thedailystar
