Democracy ‘broken down’ in Bangladesh: British MP

British MP Simon Danczuk has said democracy has now ‘broken down’ in Bangladesh and there is ‘irrefutable evidence,’ reports the UNB.

 

The independent MP for Rochdale moved a debate on current situation in Bangladesh on Tuesday at the Westminster Hall and made the remark.

 

He said he was in Bangladesh just a few weeks ago and he spoke with trustworthy non-governmental organisations.

 

“I learned that ballot boxes were now being stuffed with ballot papers for the ruling party in advance of local elections taking place; that opposition candidates were not appearing on the ballot paper when they should have been,” Danczuk said.

 

He mentioned that opposition candidates were being “persuaded” not to stand or campaign; and that there are also concerns about the “politicization” of the electoral commission in Bangladesh.

 

“Added to those issues is the restraint on freedom of expression and the pressure being put on the free press,” Danczuk said.

 

In his remark, Danczuk said the current situation in Bangladesh has some relationship to the war for independence in 1971, but it is also very much the result of the seriously flawed general election on January 5, 2014.

 

In debating the current situation in Bangladesh, he talked about what has been happening recently what they should anticipate happening next in Bangladesh.