DE Online Desk
Jim Bates, an election observer from the US, has described the 12th National Parliamentary Election as “free and fair.”
“I’d like to say it’s a free and fair election already,” he told reporters.
“The thing they keep talking about is low turnout: that’s a misnomer. In some countries, voting goes on till 5/6 pm or even months,” he added. “So when they say ‘low turnout,’ that’s something to manoeuvre the press,” Bates said.
Jim Bates is an American former politician who served as a Democratic elected official from San Diego, California. He served four terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 1991. He was the first congressman to be disciplined for sexual harassment. Foreign observers visited several centres Sunday.
“At this point, it looks peaceful. Hopefully that will remain the case throughout the day,” said another observer. Around 127 foreign observers are currently in Dhaka to observe the 12th National Parliamentary Election. Chief Electoral Officer of Palestine Hisham Kuhali on Sunday said Bangladeshis people should be proud of electoral procedures that are in place and expressed satisfaction over the smooth completion of the vote casting.
“We noticed quiet and peaceful election. We have not noticed any sign of violence,” he told reporters at a media briefing at a city hotel.
Kuhali said the procedures of casting votes were very simple and straightforward.
“This is very good by international standards,” he said, referring to time it takes to cast a vote.
