UN resident coordinator hopes all parties will participate in upcoming election

The United Nations will provide assistance to the Election Commission (EC) for Bangladesh’s upcoming parliamentary elections, UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka, Gwyn Lewis, said on Sunday (October 5).

Speaking to reporters at the BNP Chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, Lewis emphasized the importance of the next election and expressed hope that all political parties will participate. Earlier, he met with BNP leaders to discuss matters related to elections, democracy, and other national issues.

“Next election is very crucial. The UN will provide technical support, and I hope all parties participate in it,” Lewis said.

BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said the discussions focused on restoring democratic order in Bangladesh. “We talked at length about the current situation in Bangladesh, elections, and the country’s democratic future. The UN has shown commitment to helping restore democratic order, and for that, all stakeholders need to work together,” he said.

Chowdhury added that the conversation covered the upcoming election, planned for the first half of February, and ways to ensure its successful completion.

The discussion also touched on the repatriation of Rohingya refugees and their current humanitarian conditions. “We discussed how the Bangladesh government and international partners can work together to support the Rohingya, and the UN has reaffirmed its support until repatriation is possible. We explored ways to further improve and advance these efforts,” Chowdhury said.

Chowdhury also praised Gwyn Lewis for his contributions to democracy and human rights in Bangladesh, particularly during difficult times. “We acknowledged and thanked him for his courageous role in ensuring the democratic, political, constitutional, and human rights of the people, in accordance with the UN Charter,” he said.

The meeting was attended by BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s International Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir, Organizational Secretary, and special foreign policy advisor Shama Obaid.