Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Sunday said the government is examining the observations made in the NDI-IRI report, as well as those made by friendly countries and any other entities.
He also pointed out that the joint NDI and IRI mission in its report acknowledges that the January 7 election witnessed less violence compared to previous polls.
The quality of the election was much better than the previous ones in Bangladesh or other countries in the subcontinent, he said.
"A fair and good election was held," said the minister while responding to a question at the Foreign Service Academy.
Hasan Mahmud said the NDI and IRI have presented their statement. "We are looking into that. But a beautiful, fair, free and impartial election was held in the country."
"The BNP and their allies did not only boycott the election but also tried to resist it… they should also address this issue," Hasan said.
He said the BNP incited violence and people were burnt and killed. "These issues have to be there in the report."
Responding to a question on whether the government is rejecting the report, the minister said it is not a matter of rejection or acceptance.
"They have given the report, we are looking into it, and we are examining all the observations made by our friendly countries and anyone else," Hasan said.
The 2024 election had less physical and online violence compared to previous election cycles, the NDI-IRI techncal assessment mission said.
The joint National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republican Institute (IRI) technical assessment mission — deployed to Bangladesh to monitor potential violence before, during and after the country’s January 7 parliamentary election — released its final report on Saturday.
“This report provides a valuable roadmap for more peaceful elections in Bangladesh’s future,” said Manpreet Singh Anand, the NDI’s regional director for the Asia-Pacific.
“Leaders across the socio-political spectrum – including political parties, the government and civil society – have a responsibility to reform the rules, practices and norms of electoral politics toward nonviolence,” he said.
The document provides a thematic analysis of different types of election-related violence and includes recommendations to Bangladesh’s Election Commission, the executive and legislative branches of the government, political parties, civil society and other stakeholders based on the IRI and NDI’s comparative experience, to mitigate the risks of violence in future elections, in the furtherance of international cooperation and with respect for the sovereignty of Bangladesh.
