Former Prime Minister of Jamaica Bruce Golding will lead a ten-person Commonwealth Knowledgeable Staff (CET) assigned to watch the Bangladesh normal elections, to be held on January 7.
Commonwealth Secretary-Normal Patricia Scotland, following an invite from the Bangladesh Election Fee, appointed the cross-functional group of specialists.
The Commonwealth Secretary-Normal stated: “The Commonwealth’s dedication to fostering peaceable, truthful and credible elections is unwavering. Neutral and unbiased elections observers present priceless suggestions to enhance and strengthen the elections and democratic processes.
“The group’s deployment demonstrates the Commonwealth’s continued dedication to supporting electoral democracy in our 56 member nations and safeguarding the rights of the folks of Bangladesh as they participate in these pivotal elections.”
She additionally expressed her gratitude to Golding, who will chair the CET, and to every of the eminent specialists, drawn from throughout the Commonwealth, who will take part on this essential project.
The professional group will think about all facets of the election course of and supply their observations on whether or not the elections are carried out in step with the democratic requirements to which Bangladesh has dedicated itself. The CET can even be supported by employees members from the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Golding, Chairman of the CET, stated: “It’s my honour and privilege to have been requested to steer this group and to as soon as once more, serve the Commonwealth. I’m happy to be collaborating with this professional group which, as is customary, contains specialists from numerous backgrounds, nations and professions. In conducting our duties in Bangladesh, we pledge to stay goal, clear and unbiased.”
The complete composition of the Commonwealth Knowledgeable Staff contains:
- Chairperson: Bruce Golding, former Prime Minister, Jamaica.
- Dr Samuel Azu’u Fonkam, former Chairman, Elections Cameroon.
- Sabyasachi Banerjee, Advocate, Calcutta Excessive Court docket, India.
- Pauline Njoroge, digital media specialist, Kenya.
- Jeffrey Salim Waheed, former Deputy International Minister, Maldives.
- Prof Attahiru Jega, former Chairman, Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee, Nigeria.
- Hennah Joku, media specialist, Papua New Guinea.
- Prof Weligama Vidana Arachchige Dinesha Samararatne, authorized professional, Sri Lanka.
- Terry Dale Ince, gender and human rights advocate, organizational improvement guide and Founding father of CEDAW Committee of Trinidad and Tobago.
- Mark Stephens CBE, Lawyer, United Kingdom.
All through their time in Bangladesh, the CET will meet numerous stakeholders, together with political events, police, civil society teams, citizen observer and monitor teams, in addition to representatives from the media.
From January 6, the group can even deploy in small teams across the nation to watch electoral preparations of their respective areas. On election day, the group will observe the opening, voting, closing, counting and outcomes administration processes.
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