Green party

London MEP calls for action on human rights to ensure free and fair elections in Bangladesh

07 April 2008

At a European Commission meeting today, Jean Lambert, Green Party MEP forLondon, called on the Government of Bangladesh to tackle human rights abusesin the run-up to elections later this year.

Since the general election was postponed, which was due to take place inJanuary 2007, the leaders of the two main parties have been imprisoned oncorruption and other charges and the interim Government has been operatingunder a state of emergency.

The present Government has been undertaking a huge operation to register allBangladeshis to vote in the local and general elections this year, with 40million citizens now entered onto the electoral role.

Jean Lambert, the Green Party MEP for London, who is a member of theEuropean Parliament's South Asia delegation, said:

"The Government in Bangladesh is taking positive steps towards democracy forthe forthcoming elections, but there are further issues to be tackled toensure that voting is free and fair.

"Firstly, there must be freedom of speech and all political parties must beat liberty to campaign. Secondly, the Government must put an end to thehuman rights abuses currently taking place.

"The prison population in Bangladesh is rising and some people are beingdetained without trial. There are also allegations of the authoritiesinflicting torture. This situation must not continue.

"The local elections, due to take place in May, will be a test of the newdemocratic system, ahead of a general election later in the year. It isessential that the interim Government maintains the confidence of the peopleby being as firm on human rights as they are on corruption."