US Ambassador in Dhaka Peter Haas has said that the pre-assessment team of the United States will come to Bangladesh in October to monitor the situation of the 12th National Parliament elections.
He told this to reporters after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal at the Election Commission in the capital on Tuesday.
The envoy said: “I have informed the CEC that the United States will send a pre-assessment monitoring team in early October. This team will have experts from National Democratic Institute and International Republican Institute with experience in election monitoring and preparation.”
Peter Haas pointed out that the United States is interested in free, fair and peaceful elections in Bangladesh.
He also mentioned that in the meeting with CEC, various issues including the latest revision of the Representation of the People Order (RPO) and registration of new parties were discussed.
CEC Kazi Habibul Awal was also present with him.
Haas said the US does not think it is a violation of the Vienna Convention when other countries raise issues regarding domestic political affairs.
“In the United States, when other countries raise issues with us about our domestic political affairs, we listen to them, and we see what we can learn from them. We do not feel it is a violation of the Vienna Convention.”
Bangladesh recently conveyed its dismay to 13 envoys in Dhaka over their “undiplomatic behaviour” of issuing a joint statement.