DHAKA: Senior Foreign Office Minister of United Kingdom (UK) Baroness Warsi urged political parties of Bangladesh to work for the interests of Bangladeshi people.
 
In a statement, she said the 10th parliamentary elections in Bangladesh see the Awami League returned to government with over half of Bangladesh’s constituencies uncontested.   

Commenting on the election results, Warsi said, “We note the announcement of the results of the 10th Parliamentary Elections in Bangladesh; an election called in accordance with Bangladesh’s Constitution.”  

“Like others in the international community, the UK believes that the true mark of a mature, functioning democracy is peaceful, credible elections that express the genuine will of the voters.  It is therefore, disappointing that voters in more than half the constituencies did not have the opportunity to express their will at the ballot box and that turnout in most other constituencies was low,” she said.

Warsi added: “We deplore the acts of intimidation and unlawful violence from all parties that have taken place in recent weeks and the arson attacks on public buildings, including schools and colleges, which have been reported over the weekend.”

She said, “We are deeply concerned at the deaths of so many people, political harassment and the heightened political tensions which underlie them.”
 
Warsi further said all political parties of Bangladesh have to share a clear and unequivocal responsibility to work together to strengthen democratic accountability as an urgent priority and to build the willingness and capacity to hold future participatory elections without the fear of intimidation or reprisals.

She added: “We therefore urge the new government and all political parties to act in line with the interests of the people of Bangladesh.”

Warsi also said, “Bangladesh is an important partner for the UK and we continue to support its people in their aspirations for a more stable, prosperous, and democratic future.”

BDST: 1925 HRS, JAN 6, 2013
Edited by: Golam Rosul, Newsroom Editor/M. Mahbub Alam, Asst Output Editor