UN-Bangladesh Election

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-11-01-3393911705_x.htm

USA TODAY

UN chief hopes for free, fair polls in Bangladesh

By Julhas Alam, Associated Press Writer

DHAKA, Bangladesh — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Saturday he hopes Bangladesh can make a peaceful transition to democracy through free and fair elections due in December.

Bangladesh's military-backed interim government imposed a state of emergency in the South Asian nation in January 2007 following weeks of deadly rioting between supporters of rival political parties about electoral reform.

The country's main political parties have raised concerns that the Dec. 18 general election may not be free and fair if the government does not lift the emergency rule, under which political gatherings are banned and the military can make arrests without warrants. The government has not indicated if it intends to relax the restrictions.

Ban, who arrived in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka on Saturday for a two-day visit, said he expected the government and political parties to cooperate to ensure an effective and violence-free election.

"I've expressed my sincere hope and wish that this parliamentary election will be held in the most fair, objective and credible way so that Bangladesh can have a very smooth and peaceful transition to full democracy," Ban told reporters after a meeting with an adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Under the regime of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, opposition parties had complained the voter lists contained errors and duplications that favored her party. The U.N. has since provided technical assistance and funding for a scheme to clean up the lists. The new lists have been accepted by the country's main political parties.

Ban is expected to meet Bangladesh's figurehead President Iajuddin Ahmed and interim leader Fakhruddin Ahmed on Sunday along with delegations from the country's two major parties -- the Bangladesh Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

The U.N. said Ban will also visit some U.N.-sponsored climate change adaptation schemes in northern Bangladesh, which faces floods almost every year.

Bangladesh contributes more than 9,000 troops to U.N. peacekeeping missions worldwide, making it the second largest contributor of forces after Pakistan.
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