Eight members of the Canadian parliament wrote a letter to Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina calling for free, peaceful and orderly completion of the upcoming general elections in Bangladesh with the participation of all parties.

Canada-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship Group chair Brad Redekopp shared the letter on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday (November 10).

They also have expressed the hope that the government will protect the freedom of expression.

Those eight lawmakers from Canada's lower house are members of the Canada-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship Group. They sent the letter to Sheikh Hasina on November 8.

In their letter, the Canadian parliament members said, "As members of the Canada-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship Group, we are writing you regarding the elections expected in your country in January of 2024. We write to express our deep desire to see free, fair, and peaceful elections in Bangladesh."

Recognising that this election will give millions of Bangladeshis the opportunity to express their choice of political party to govern Bangladesh, the Canadian lawmakers placed a list of expectations to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

They expect the government of Sheikh Hasina will protect freedom of expression and respect dissenting opinions; work diligently to prevent irregularities in voting so that voter intimidation, vote rigging and ballot box stuffing are not allowed to happen. 

The Canadian lawmakers also expect that the government of Sheikh Hasina will do everything it can to prevent violence and ensure the protection of all Bangladeshis, regardless of their political affiliation, and  promote active participation of all eligible Bangladeshi citizens in the election.

The letter stated, "A robust democracy thrives on the participation of diverse political ideologies and the fair representation of citizens' choices. By allowing all political parties to participate freely and ensuring that the electoral process is conducted without bias, Bangladesh can demonstrate its commitment to democracy and its respect for the will of the people. In doing so, you not only strengthen the democratic fabric of your nation but also set an inspiring example for the world.

"Canada and Bangladesh enjoy a strong bilateral relationship, and it is our desire that our exchange of people and goods will grow further in future. This can only happen with strong democratic governments in both of our countries," the letter further said.

"In light of the upcoming elections, we urge you to continue developing your democratic tradition by ensuring that the electoral process remains free, fair and peaceful, involving all political parties in a transparent manner," the letter concluded.

BDST: 1812 HRS, NOV 10, 2023
MSK