UN will not send observers for Bangladesh election

The United Nations will not deploy election observers for Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th parliamentary election, the UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson said on Monday.

Responding to questions during the regular press briefing, spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the UN does not independently send election observation missions without a mandate from the General Assembly or the Security Council. As a result, the organisation is not currently involved in such monitoring for Bangladesh.

He added that UN country offices often provide technical assistance to electoral processes and said it would be clarified later whether such support was being extended in Bangladesh.

On questions about Bangladesh’s political situation, Dujarric said analysing news events was the responsibility of journalists, not the UN. He reaffirmed, however, that the organisation supports the political aspirations of the Bangladeshi people and backs elections conducted through free expression.

Asked about the return of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman after 17 years, he declined to comment. He also conveyed the UN’s deep condolences to the family and people of Bangladesh over the death of former prime minister Khaleda Zia.