Francesc Vendrell, head of UN secretary-general’s panel for Bangladesh parliamentary elections, on Friday said that the Awami League members should extend their hands of friendship to the BNP members to enable them to play a constructive role in the parliament to strengthen the country’s democracy.
   The head of the three-member delegation, assigned by the UN secretary-general, also felt that to win the polls with such a huge margin has put a heavy responsibility on the AL, which will have to cope with the challenges to be faced by the country in the days ahead.
   ‘The major challenges faced by the new government in Bangladesh will be the spiralling prices of agricultural products and the recession of the economy in the wake of the global economic meltdown. It is going to be extremely difficult. But I am sure they [AL leaders] are aware of the challenges,’ said Vendrell.
   Briefing reporters at Hotel Sonargaon, the former senior UN official said that he was encouraged by Sheikh Hasina’s stance as she wants to offer the post of the deputy speaker and some chairmanships of the parliamentary standing committees to opposition MPs.
   ‘She looks forward to getting the cooperation of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in the next parliament. Despite the frustration and disappointment in BNP’s members, there is ample scope for the opposition MPs to play a constructive role in influencing the debates and making their voices heard in the parliament,’ said Vendrell.
   He did not think that a parliament with a small opposition against a huge government majority could not be effective.
   The UN secretary-general’s emissary suggested that there should be cooperation between the winners and losers and there should not be any ill-feeling that may lead to conflict.
   ‘We urge both the winners and losers to continue to show their restraint. We encourage the Awami League to extend their hands of friendship to the opposition,’ he said.
   About the future of democracy in Bangladesh, Vendrell said, ‘Election is one way of achieving democracy. But there are other factors like a stable law and order situation, independence of the judiciary, and effective Anti-Corruption Commission and Human Rights Commission that are required to strengthen democracy.’
   The mission was assigned to monitor the elections in Bangladesh in coordination with other foreign observers and foreign missions in Dhaka.
   Referring to the findings of the monitors, he said, ‘The elections were indeed credible and of a very high standard. They were conducted in a credible, free and fair manner and the turn-out was high. The minorities here for the first time exercised their franchise without facing the kind of intimidation that they had to earlier.’
   Referring to BNP’s allegations of irregularities and rigging in most constituencies across the country, Vendrell said, ‘I will request the Election Commission to look into this. However, I feel that even if the complaints are valid, they would not have made any change in the election results.’
   Touching on the issue of post-election violence, he said that response to defeat in the elections should not be violence.
   ‘It is important that the law enforcers ensure peace and tranquillity,’ he added.
   When he was asked if the trial of the war criminals of 1971 had come up during his meeting with the Awami League president and prime minister-elect, Vendrel said Hasina had mentioned the issue.
   He said it would be up to the new government to take up the matter with the UN’s secretary-general and clarify what it wants the UN to do.
   ‘We will look into the matter very carefully,’ he said.
   The 3-member high-level UN mission was sent twice by Ban Ki-Moon to assess the pre-election, polling day and the post-election situation.
   The two other members on the mission were  Bhoraj Pokharel, chief election commissioner of Nepal, and Aracelly Santana, former deputy director the UN Electoral Assistance Division.

Source: New Age