Bangladesh elections: China joins international call for political stability

BEIJING, Jan. 9 (NsNewsWire) — China has joined with the United Nations, Europe and United States in calling for political stability in Bangladesh after the farcical and violent walkover poll last weekend.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL) party was, essentially, the only participant – and swept the polls. More than half of total seats were uncontested and decided before polling day.
Beijing has expressed the hope that parties in Bangladesh can realize political stability through talks and negotiation after Sunday’s “controversial” parliamentary elections, marred by opposition boycott and widespread violence.
“We noted that Bangladesh’s parliamentary election had been completed on Jan. 5. As a friendly neighbor of Bangladesh, China is concerned about the country’s national situation,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing on Thursday.
China also hoped that political forces in Bangladesh can give priority to national long-term and fundamental interests, and hold talks and consultation in efforts to realize political and social stability, as well as economic development.
A large section of international community, including Canada, Commonwealth, France, Germany, Britain, the United States and the United Nations, have already expressed their disappointment over the elections and called for political stability in the country.
Many of them including Australia almost openly called for holding a fresh “inclusive, peaceful and credible democratic elections.”
Australia’s minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop said in a statement on Wednesday: “The government and the opposition must take up their shared responsibility to hold a new, fully contested and transparent election as soon as possible.”
Mired in controversy, Bangladesh’s 10th parliamentary election was held in just 147 of 300 seats in 59 of 64 districts of the country on Jan 5. And, 153 candidates have been elected uncontested amid boycott by ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and 17 its allies.
Some 21 parties including BNP and its key ally Jamaat boycotted the polls as Hasina’s government did not pay heed to their demand for holding the 10th parliament elections under a non-party interim caretaker government.